PESHAWAR: Ali Amin Gandapur, the firebrand leader of Imran Khan’s party in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has warned of further protests against the federal government to secure the jailed former prime minister’s release. “We will continue to carry out attacks like the battle of Panipat. If the demands are not met, we will win,” Gandapur told reporters on Saturday, referring to the historic battle in the subcontinent.
“We have carried out only five attacks and will continue to carry out the rest,” he mentioned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party march in Islamabad on 24 November to demand Khan’s release.
The protests began after Khan’s party issued an “ultimate call” on November 24, demanding the restoration of his party’s electoral mandate, the release of detained party members and the reversal of the 26th Amendment, which he said had entrenched “authoritarian rule”. .
During the “do or die” protests in Islamabad, the PTI leadership, including Gandapur and Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, disappeared from the scene when law enforcers launched an operation to clear Islamabad’s red zone on the night between November 26-27. .
Gandapur’s statement came two days after Khan on Friday warned the government to launch a “civil disobedience” movement if his demands, including a judicial inquiry into the crackdown on party supporters, were not met.
Gandapur accused the government of killing his party supporters after imposing Article 245.
“12 of our supporters have been killed while 107 others are still missing.” He expressed concern over the missing supporters of his party.
The Chief Minister said that he saw the role of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) in the crackdown on PTI supporters last month. “PPP and PML-N want civil war in the country by spreading hatred,” he said.
Responding to a question, Gandapur said that his party has not taken a decision on civil disobedience.
“We are negotiating in the interest of the country.”
