K-P Assembly passes resolution demanding immediate release of CM Gandapur

Speaker Swati closes session by demanding federal govt to clarify legal status of K-P within the federation

PESHAWAR:

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has passed a resolution calling for the immediate release of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, whose sudden disappearance has sparked widespread concern.

The resolution, introduced by Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam, condemns the recent raid on the K-P House in Islamabad and the violent actions that followed.

The assembly's emergency session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, began five hours late and was marked by loud protests from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers.

Speaker Swati urged the members to address the serious matters at hand, stating, "The assembly represents the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the events of the past two days must be discussed in detail." He added that the assembly should listen to speeches rather than resort to slogan-chanting, emphasising that the rooms of the chief minister and ministers at K-P House had been damaged.

Despite the speaker's warnings, the session was repeatedly interrupted by protests, prompting him to warn that any further disruptions would lead to the expulsion of attendees from the gallery.

Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam presented the resolution, which accused Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi of misleading the public about the Chief Minister Gandapur’s whereabouts. "The chief minister has been missing, and federal officials have continuously made false statements," the resolution stated. It also urged the speaker to request an official report on the matter.

The resolution condemned the illegal actions at K-P House, including "shelling and firing" incidents, and demanded accountability for those involved. "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is part of the federation, and we must be informed of the steps being taken," Alam stressed.

The resolution was passed by a majority vote, with the assembly demanding an official investigation into the disappearance of Chief Minister Gandapur. Speaker Babar Saleem Swati summoned the Chief Secretary, Inspector General of Police, and the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary to report on what measures were being taken to locate Gandapur.

During the session, Dr Amjad expressed concern that powers were being transferred to the Chief Secretary under Article 149, stating, "The chief minister is an elected representative, and his disappearance is an insult to the province." The speaker echoed these concerns, questioning whether the government considered Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a part of the federation.

The assembly members also raised questions about the status of K-P House, with Advocate General Shah Faisal Uthmankhel explaining that the building holds a status similar to that of an embassy. He condemned the raid as a "criminal act" and refuted the application of Article 149 to the situation.

Speaker Swati closed the session by reiterating that the federal government must clarify the legal status of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the federation, saying, "Is Khyber Pakhtunkhwa being treated like Occupied Kashmir? Are we not part of the federation?"

The situation remains tense, with the assembly demanding answers and accountability regarding the chief minister’s fate.