Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has once again issued a provocative call for the public to march towards Islamabad, this time urging people to take up arms for the release of PTI incarcerated patron-in-chief and former premier Imran Khan.
Addressing a rally in the suburban area of Mathra near Peshawar, Gandapur warned that if fired upon, "we will retaliate with full force." He declared, "If bullets are fired, we won't just respond — we'll hit back hard".
The gathering, organised by local PTI MNAs and MPAs to demand the release of the party's top leadership, was attended by former MNA Sajid Nawaz, former deputy speaker Mehmood Jan, MNA Sher Ali Arbab and other senior PTI leaders.
Fireworks were set off to mark the chief minister's arrival and he was presented with a traditional turban.
The current and former lawmakers addressed the crowd, urging people to prepare for mass resistance.
They said the only path left to secure the release of the party's patron-in-chief is through defiance.
"Whenever he gives the call, we will march with full force," they vowed, asking the participants of the rally to raise their hands and take an oath to join any such movement.
While local representatives raised various regional issues during the event, Chief Minister Gandapur kept his speech brief, focusing solely on party matters. He did not address local concerns, instead asking supporters to wait for a call for the patron-in-chief's release.
"This time, if they open fire, we will not hold back. We will go with weapons and, if need be, take bullets to our chests, but we will strike back," Gandapur said.
He also announced that province-wide protests would be held on June 22 at both the tehsil and district levels to demand the release of the PTI founder.
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