Gandapur urges party leader to avoid criticism that hurts jailed Imran Khan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has urged members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to avoid making any statements that could potentially harm jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Speaking at an event organised by the Lahore High Court (LHC) Bar today (Thursday), Gandapur delivered a fiery speech, saying, “I want to say one thing to PTI: do not level any criticism that harms your cause or your leader.”

Advising his party members to unite and confront their opponents, he said, “As we say in Pashto: either I’ll break my head or I’ll break the mountain. We are nearing victory. Imran Khan will be among us very soon. Imran Khan is the voice of the nation. Nobody dares to suppress his voice.”

The CM, while alleging that last year’s election was rigged, said, “The rigging in the 2024 elections is proof that they [the establishment] don’t want elected representatives; they want selected ones.”

Gandapur emphasised, “We have ended corruption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and collected the money,” claiming, “KP is the richest province of Pakistan today.”

He added that Imran Khan is willing to negotiate—not for himself, but for the sake of Pakistan—and questioned how long the former prime minister would remain imprisoned. “He wants the rule of law in the country,” Gandapur stated.

His remarks came a week after senior PTI leader Azam Khan Swati claimed that the party founder, Imran Khan, had agreed to hold negotiations.

Speaking to reporters outside an anti-terrorism court in Lahore, Swati said that Khan is deeply concerned about the country’s future and the well-being of future generations.

“The entire nation now stands with the PTI founder,” he stated, adding that any dialogue that takes place would be productive once it begins.

However, following Swati’s statement regarding negotiations, PTI distanced itself, with the party’s Secretary General, Salman Akram Raja, stating that such actions are not sanctioned by the party leadership.

“The claims of a deal between Azam Swati and the establishment have no connection with PTI. He is speaking in his personal capacity,” said Raja.