Reaction to Gandapur's killing: Imran asks govt about APC implementation

Imran says he was shocked, stunned, devastated on hearing news of Gandapur's death.

RAWALPINDI: Terming the people and the government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as front line targets after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lost its third MPA in less than six months, the party chairman Imran Khan implored the federal government to implement the political consensus arrived at in September’s All Parties Conference.

It is imperative the federal govt move forward to implement political consensus arrived at APC. KP ppl and govt are frontline targets.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 16, 2013

He asked why has the government not acted on the decisions decided upon in the APC.

We must ask the govt why it has drifted into inaction after APC instead of moving forward resolutely with a consensual political mandate?

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 16, 2013

Imran said that he had received the news while he was meeting people in his own constituency of NA-56 in Rawalpindi, much like Gandapur was doing in his constituency of PK-68. He added that the news had left him stunned.

The PTI chief recalled that he had last met Gandapur at the peace cricket match held in Peshawar on Sunday.

Last met Israr Gandapur on Sunday in Peshawar where we watched the Peace Cricket Match together.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 16, 2013

He further prayed for the two children, wife and parents that Gandapur left behind.

My prayers go out to Israr's wife, 2 children and parents;and to the families of all the other victims.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 16, 2013

Imran also reportedly cut short his trip around NA-56, an emergency press conference over the attack and is scheduled to travel to DI Khan.

Ik cancels his media talk in Pindi and cuts short the tour of his constituency to go back and personally monitor situation in DI Khanm

— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) October 16, 2013

Gandapur was at his home in Kulachi, about 45 kilometers west of DI Khan. He was greeting visitors who had called upon him to wish him Eid. The blast, described by police as a suicide bomb, killed at least nine people and injured 30 others.

He is the third PTI MPA to be killed since the May elections.

Previously PTI MPA from Hangu Farid Khan was gunned down on June 3. Farid had won the PK-42 (Hangu-I) seat as an independent candidate and had then joined Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

MPA Imran Mohmand and 29 other people were killed when a suicide bomber blew up during a funeral in the Shergarh area of Mardan on June 18.