Despite some parliamentarians’ financial support requests to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister (CM) Ali Amin Gandapur, no additional funds were released for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) February 8 rally in Swabi.

 

According to reports, CM Gandapur used to provide funds to party lawmakers to mobilise workers for rallies. However, he did not approve any additional funds for the party’s Feb 8 “Black Day” power show to mark one year since what it claims was a “rigged election” in 2024.

 

Speaking to a private media outlet, CM’s spokesperson Faraz Mughal said that while Gandapur personally funded some lawmakers to help bring workers to the event, no official funds were released.

 

PTI Peshawar’s Regional President Muhammad Asim said that a large number of party followers attended the event despite the fact that no special financial assistance was provided to lawmakers for the rally.

 

Reports, on the other hand, claimed that the rally was not a success as most of the arena remained empty. Around 5,000 to 6,000 individuals attended the gathering, reports said and further claimed that some KP assembly lawmakers did not have enough funds to provide workers with transportation.

 

However, Adviser to CM on Information and Broadcasting Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif dismissed all claims of a low turn-out, stressing that the rally was successful and attracted a large crowd.

 

Speaking to the private media outlet, Saif alleged that convoys coming for the rally from Punjab were intercepted, which affected the attendance.

 

“We had won elections in Punjab. Our mandate was stolen in the darkness of the night [during the polls],” PTI chief Barrister Gohar Ali Khan alleged during his address at the rally in question on Saturday.

 

The PTI chief stressed the need for independence of the judiciary and the rule of law. “There will be political stability if the judiciary is independent,” he said. 

 

Moving on to the stalled talks between the PTI and the ruling coalition, he said that they entered the negotiation process in line with directions from incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan. “Imran Khan directed to initiate talks for the sake of the country,” he said.

 

Addressing the rally, CM KP said his party wanted the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution in the country.

 

For his part, Gandapur warned that if his party decided to take revenge, then the ruling coalition "won’t be able to bear it". He said that the country would suffer if hatred increased.