ISLAMABAD: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur boldly challenged rival political parties and state institutions on Wednesday, daring them to attempt to bring down the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in the province. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Gandapur declared, “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.”
Flanked by senior PTI leaders, including Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja, and K-P President Junaid Akbar, Gandapur lashed out at the federal government, describing it as “a disgraceful stain on the state and its institutions.” He expressed confidence that attempts to remove PTI members through unconstitutional means would fail, adding, “You cannot topple Khan’s people.”
The press conference followed a high-level emergency session of PTI’s all-parliamentary committee, which gathered PTI MNAs, MPAs, senators, and leadership to discuss key matters, including the recent court ruling on reserved seats and the status of jailed leaders. Despite speculation of internal divisions, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan emphasized the unity within the party, reaffirming its commitment to Imran Khan’s leadership. Gohar further clarified that PTI has been open to dialogue with the government but blamed the lack of sincerity from the federal side.
Addressing the issue of the reserved seats, Gohar stated that the party would protect the K-P government at all costs. “Even if these seats go to the opposition, they are still 35 members short. We will protect the K-P government at all costs,” he asserted.
The press conference also revealed some internal tensions within PTI. During the meeting, some leaders expressed differing views on the party’s direction, with Nisar Jatt criticizing K-P CM Gandapur over the provincial budget and urging more coordinated statements. Meanwhile, others, like Ali Muhammad Khan, expressed support for dialogue, whether it leads to negotiations or protests.
A unanimous resolution passed by the leadership rejected the Constitutional Bench’s verdict on the reserved seats and called for efforts to secure the release of Imran Khan and other jailed leaders. PTI’s spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram highlighted that the party’s actions—whether legal, political, or public—would follow the direction of Imran Khan.
Despite internal disagreements, the party leaders united to reinforce loyalty to the party’s founding chairman and its ideological vision. Gandapur concluded that PTI remains united, despite occasional tensions within the ranks.
