Gandapur vows to avenge slain workers

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has pledged justice for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers who lost their lives during the November 26 protests at D-Chowk in Islamabad, vowing that their sacrifices will not go in vain.

Speaking at the stone-laying ceremony for the Havelian Water Supply Scheme in Peshawar, Gandapur declared, "We will take account of the blood of our martyrs. I salute those who sacrificed their lives for true democracy".

A local TV channel has quoted CM Gandapur as saying: "Imran Khan! for God's sake, stop advocating for peace. Next time, we will not talk about peace. When we come out with weapons, we will show who runs away."

The firebrand chief minister said: "We will take to the streets next time without the slogan of peace."

He blasted the PML-N-led coalition government, saying that they were fighting against fascism. "Fascism has trampled on the Constitution, law, morality and humanity."

The chief minister slammed Information Minister Atta Tarar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and others in connection with theirstatements on the Islamabad clashes.

On Saturday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) repeated its call for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of November 26, as the Senate continued its discussion on the opposition party's protest march in Islamabad last month.

During the session, with Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani in the chair, PTI's Aun Abbas Bappi warned the government not to take the party's offer for dialogue as a weakness.

Bappi said that the PTI would not compromise on its honour for the sake of dialogue. He asserted there would be no talks if the government mocked their offer. He demanded that a judicial commission probe the incidents of November 26.

Bappi also criticised the government, saying it would invite a foreign dignitary whenever the PTI announced a protest. "They invite only those people who no one in the world invites," he alleged.

He demanded the Senate chairman issue a production order for Senator Ijaz Chaudhry. Gilani replied that the house had referred the matter of Ijaz Chaudhry to the law and interior ministries, as well as the provincial government. "I think the government is seriously considering it," he said.