Gandapur says PTI doesn’t want to fight anyone

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, who belongs to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-insaf (PTI), has asked the “powerful quarters” to declare clemency for his party and move forward to put the country on the road to progress.

“We don’t want to fight anyone. What we want is the development and prosperity of the country. The military, police and judiciary are all ours and so are the masses,” he told a public meeting.

Gandapur, who is also the KP president of PTI, admitted that May 9 was a black day and condemned it.

“But it is also important to determine who the masterminds of these events were. We will tell the nation who were the perpetrators of May 9 and who were the beneficiaries.”

The chief minister said PTI founder Imran Khan had told them in advance that he would be attacked, imprisoned and efforts would be made to finish his party.

“All his predictions later proved true.” Gandapur said the PTI leaders and workers had undergone unprecedented tribulations after the May 9 violence. “But the PTI will neither bow down nor allow the nation to kneel before anyone,” he pledged.

The chief minister said he was a witness to several events which were preceded by May 9.

“This system will stand exposed if I speak up,” he warned.

Referring to the recent press conference by the Inter-services Public Relations (ISPR) head where he had sought an apology from those who had indulged in violence on May 9, 2023, Gandapur said the military spokesman should not indulge in political talks.

“We have pardoned all despite being in the government. But who will seek apology for what had happened to our leaders and workers?”

He lamented that fake cases were instituted against him in eight districts after the May 9 incidents.

“I ask those who had registered these cases to seek an apology. Our leaders are still in jails but no crime has been proven against them.” Gandapur said Imran was a popular leader. “He is in jail for the masses and Pakistan,” he said and added that he was not afraid of the governor’s rule in KP. “But if that was imposed, the people would occupy both the Governor’s House and Chief Minister’s House as only people’s rule is permissible in KP.”