Bullet for bullet, warns Gandapur

K-P CM says no alternative to revolution now

PESHAWAR:

Declaring that there was no other alternative, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur called for a revolution in the country, stating on Sunday that the response to a bullet would now be met with a bullet.

In a late-night video message after the Rawalpindi protest, Chief Minister Gandapur said that they had been "wronged and their privacy violated", but they did not utter a word of complaint for the sake of the country but now he had a final message.

The announcement came a day after Gandapur failed to join the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) protest in Rawalpindi as he got stuck at the Burhan Interchange, where he later announced the end of the protest and instructed workers to return.

The PTI supporters, while responding to a call from their leader Imran Khan, hit the streets of Rawalpindi on Saturday amid a government ban on public gatherings under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), igniting intense clashes with police that turned the city into a battleground.

A sense of foreboding and tension hung in the air in the garrison city as the embattled party prepared for the protest. In a bid to curb the protest, Rawalpindi police blocked entry points to the city, thwarting attempts by PTI workers to gather at Liaquat Bagh, which had been designated as the protest venue.

Amid the turmoil, the Punjab police detained PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and leader Salman Akram Raja. Gohar was released shortly afterwards. The use of tear gas throughout the day caused considerable distress. The protest and clashes continued till late evening.

In the video message, Gandapur claimed that during the protests, they were fired upon, shells were lobbed, and they faced batons. Every three kilometres, the Punjab police continued to fire shells and bullets. Three of our workers were hit by bullets, and over 50 were injured by shells.

"Now, the message is clear, not intended as a threat rather as a final warning," Gandapur said. "I am declaring a revolution. There is no other solution except the revolution," he said. "If someone fires a bullet, he will bite a bullet himself, 10 shells and 10 sticks for one shell and one stick."

Addressing the institutions Gandapur said: "If you cannot listen to the voices of the people or respect their opinions, then step aside. Let the people take their own decisions, and allow political decisions to be taken by political leaders—do not interfere." He appealed to the tribal people to hold Jirga and unite.