Gandapur warns govt against violence

PESHAWAR

As the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) gears up for its "final push" on Sunday (today), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has warned the federal government to refrain from resorting to violence during the protests.

He further cautioned that if any harm came to PTI members during the protests, the responsibility would lie squarely with the federal government, adding that PTI founder Imran Khan was determined to pursue his demands and would go to any extent to secure their approval.

In a meeting at the CM House in Peshawar, chaired by Barrister Gohar Khan, senior PTI leaders, including former president Arif Alvi, Shibli Faraz and party central information secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram gathered to discuss the party's strategy.

Addressing the media following the meeting, the chief minister warned the federal and Punjab governments against blocking major highways and motorways in a bid to suppress the protests.

"In their panic, the government has already blocked the country, inadvertently ensuring our protest's success. PTI's protests have the government on edge," he added.

While assuring that the PTI protests would remain peaceful, he said the government's tactics of blocking key routes were only inconveniencing the public.

"The government's response to Imran Khan's call for action had left them unprepared and anxious."

Our first demand is the immediate release of Imran Khan and our workers," Gandapur asserted.

"We will go to any length to ensure our demands are met."

He also urged overseas Pakistanis to join the protest scheduled for the following day, stressing the importance of unity in this movement.

Gandapur warned, "If any harm comes to us, the federal government will be held accountable. If the government resorts to violence, such as firing upon peaceful protesters, they will bear the consequences".

He reiterated that the wrongful imprisonment of Imran Khan and the ongoing injustice against the party would not dampen PTI's resolve.

The chief minister shared that Imran had instructed the party to continue with the sit-in at D-Chowk until their demands were fully met, vowing to persist in their efforts against the ongoing "tyranny and fascism" until justice was served.