'No solid outcomes yet': Gandapur on talks with establishment

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has confirmed ongoing communication with the establishment, stating that no significant outcomes have emerged from these interactions.

Gandapur, a member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), made these remarks following a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, Gandapur said, "The government urges us to negotiate, but we assert that you are not even the government, so what should we negotiate with you?"

He explained that, as chief minister, he holds an official position that necessitates contact with the establishment but admitted that these discussions had yet to yield any substantial progress.

"When we engage with them, we will not forget our martyrs. We will acknowledge our mistakes and expect them to do the same," he added.

Gandapur said PTI's founder remains steadfast in his ideology, declaring, "An ideology cannot be imprisoned. The nation stands for upholding the Constitution and maintaining dignity."

He noted that the PTI founder is concerned about the country's economy and remains open to dialogue, having formed a committee for this purpose.

"The chairman always advocated for negotiations for the country's sake," Gandapur said.

Referring to past events, Gandapur stated, "The PTI founder warned of an attack on him, and it happened. There will be conspiracies to dismantle the party. If the mistake is yours, don't expect me to apologise. Come, sit, and discuss—if you can prove my mistake, I'll apologise proportionately."

He highlighted perceived injustices against the party, mentioning, "Andleeb Abbas left the party and faced no imprisonment".

"Murad Raas was involved in 1,800 calls, leading to a campaign against him, yet he continues to appear on television."

He added that the party adheres to the PTI founder's decisions and emphasised, "Those who do not respect court rulings should leave us and these two individuals alone."

When asked about the termination of Sher Afzal Marwat's party membership, Gandapur acknowledged a relationship with Marwat and stated, "Notices were issued to him on the party chairman's instructions. I advised him to tolerate criticism, even if it comes from our party's social media. Internal matters will be resolved within the party."

Gandapur advocated for open avenues for reconciliation, saying, "I believe paths for return should not be closed. There is ample room for correction." He further noted that he was unaware of any notification regarding Sher Afzal Marwat's party status.

Addressing the province's security situation, Gandapur reported that a ceasefire had been achieved in Parachinar, where a land dispute between two groups had been mischaracterised as terrorism and sectarian strife.

"We will face challenges, but peace remains our priority. We have made sacrifices before and will continue to do so. There should be terms of reference for dialogue, where concerns can be presented and addressed to resolve issues," he said.

The chief minister concluded by asserting that breakthroughs have historically emerged from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, expressing optimism for future developments, "We have always achieved breakthroughs from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and we will continue to do so."