Gandapur throws down the gauntlet

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur threw down the gauntlet on Wednesday, daring rival political parties and state institutions to try and bring down the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the province.

"If you have it in you, I challenge your strength and I challenge the state ... if you are able to topple our government, then I will leave politics," Gandapur said in a fiery press conference in Islamabad, flanked by senior PTI leaders including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja, KP President Junaid Akbar and party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram.

Lashing out at the federal government, Gandapur called it "a disgraceful stain on the state and its institutions" in the country's political history, adding, "they are not ashamed".

He asserted that PTI members were "time-tested people who have given sacrifices" and that attempts to remove them through any underhanded or unconstitutional means would not succeed. "You cannot topple Khan's people," he asserted.

The press conference followed a high-level emergency session of PTI's all-parliamentary committee held earlier in the day in Islamabad. The meeting brought together PTI MNAs, MPAs, senators, and top leadership to deliberate on key matters, including the court's reserved seats ruling, the political situation, jailed leaders' status and the roadmap for dialogue.

What was meant to be a strategic brainstorming session, however, also reportedly laid bare some internal fractures. Tensions flared between certain leaders, revealing sharp exchanges and discord that had been simmering beneath the surface.

Addressing the media, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that despite speculation of internal divisions, the meeting delivered "a message of unity" and reaffirmed commitment to Imran Khan's leadership.

"It is our decision that we will stand up together for Imran Khan. We have no personal conflict, we are and will remain united and a message of unity needed to be sent in today's meeting," he said.

He added that the session was significant because it marked "the first time that the party formed a strategy together" following the reserved seats verdict.

Gohar said that the party discussed Khan's plan to launch a protest movement, stating: "Whatever Khan sahib decides, we will execute it."

Reaffirming PTI's institutional strength, Gohar said the meeting discussed a wide range of issues, including dialogue with the government. "Whatever direction will be announced, you will see it in due course."

Responding to the ongoing discourse around the jailed PTI leaders' letter advocating dialogue, Gohar clarified that the media had often misunderstood or misrepresented the situation.

"This is incorrect, from the beginning, Khan sahib said that there should be dialogue," he said. "Even after our mandate was stolen, he said that. You have taken our seats, but you have registered cases against three of our MNAs, yet Khan sahib says that dialogue needs to be meaningful."

Gohar said there was no delay on PTI's part to engage in talks, but blamed the government for lacking sincerity, especially by denying the party access to Imran Khan.

On the contentious issue of reserved seats, Gohar noted that 25 seats were allocated from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. "Even if these seats go to the opposition … then they are 35 members short. We will protect the K-P government at all costs," he asserted. "Those who want to bring a no-confidence motion do not have the required numbers to move even a resolution."

PTI K-P President Junaid Akbar also reinforced the theme of loyalty to party discipline, stressing that all provincial leadership was present and stood united. "Decisions by the founder are respected by all members, with discord set to one side," he said.

Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram announced that the leadership had passed a unanimous resolution rejecting the Constitutional Bench's verdict on reserved seats. The resolution also committed to securing the release of Imran Khan and other jailed party leaders.

"Legal action, peaceful protest and negotiation are steps we are willing to take," Akram said, quoting the resolution. He echoed the party's stance of unity under Khan's leadership and underscored that the movement — legal, political or public — would be guided by his direction.

Unity amid tensions

Earlier, the high-level huddle saw bitter exchange, unity claims and a call for dialogue.

The meeting commenced with PTI MNA Aamir Dogar reading out a letter from party leaders imprisoned in various jails. The letter expressed grave concern over their treatment in custody, particularly the lack of medical facilities and the denial of basic rights.

Sheikh Waqas Akram said that at least seven imprisoned party workers had died due to illness, lamenting the systemic denial of their fundamental rights.

During the discussion, Nisar Jatt took aim at K-P CM Ali Amin Gandapur over the provincial budget, urging party leaders to refrain from issuing contradictory statements without mutual consultation.

He pointed out that Barrister Gohar had been nominated by the party's founding chairman and thus deserved full mandate and support.

According to sources, Ali Muhammad Khan expressed support for inter-party dialogue, stating that if the leadership opts for negotiations, he and others will stand behind them.

"And if the path of protest is chosen, we will participate in that too," he added.

Zartaj Gul suggested that protest demonstrations should be organised at the constituency level rather than converging solely in Islamabad.

She also called for the formation of an empowered committee to lead dialogue efforts.

Tensions rose when Shahid Khattak and CM Gandapur engaged in a heated exchange.

In a sharp tone, Khattak said, "I am neither your employee nor do I eat from your house. Who are you to tell me what to say?"

Responding, Gandapur stressed that PTI is a party of ideological workers and only those who uphold its ideology will remain part of it.

"To those who think there is discord in the party, today's meeting is a message that we are united," he said.

The meeting unanimously passed a resolution calling for all-out efforts to secure the release of the party's founding chairman, better healthcare for incarcerated leaders and outright rejection of the court ruling on reserved seats.

The resolution also demanded immediate permission for PTI leaders and lawyers to meet with Imran Khan.