Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur has criticised the postponement of PTI’s Islamabad march, saying that the delay weakened the party’s momentum and that no specific preparations had been made for the protest.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, Gandapur said continued pressure on the federal government could eventually force it to accept Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) demands.
He also blamed the absence of strong chief ministerial writ in KP for the detention of provincial ministers, lawmakers and party workers.
Gandapur said he had managed to reach Islamabad three times during previous protests despite facing resistance and other obstacles.
Addressing questions about his own political future, he said he had left the KP chief minister’s office on the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan.
He added that he could return to the position if Khan asked him to do so, while stressing that negotiations with the federal government were the responsibility of the party’s decision-makers rather than him.
Gandapur also described his relationship with incumbent KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi as cordial.
He said the two belonged to the same party and were Pashtuns who valued hospitality towards their guests.
The remarks followed Afridi’s decision to postpone PTI’s planned long march from September 27 to October 4.
Afridi said the march would leave Peshawar on October 4 and that PTI’s political committee had unanimously approved the revised date.
He also said TTAP chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas had been informed of the decision.
