Gandapur urges talks with Kabul to curb terrorism | The Express Tribune

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur categorically stated that his government would neither permit nor support any military operations in the province, stressing that the conflict should be addressed through negotiations.

Speaking at a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in Peshawar on Saturday, Gandapur said the provincial administration stood firmly against forced evictions in the name of counter-terrorism drives. “We will not permit any operation, nor will we support it,” he told supporters.

The chief minister reminded federal authorities of the heavy toll past campaigns had taken on the region. “In the war on terror, thousands of our people have been martyred. We do not want war, we want peace. Neither Imran Khan nor the K-P government will allow any kind of operation,” he said.

He urged the federal government and its agencies to acknowledge that military campaigns were inflicting harm on the people and insisted that the conflict should be resolved through negotiations, echoing PTI founder Imran Khan’s stance.

K-P chief minister urged Islamabad to engage in dialogue with Afghanistan to address cross-border terrorism, stressing that only negotiations could bring durable peace. “We do not want war, and we will raise our voices against it,” he added.

Gandapur also called on the judiciary to uphold the constitution and deliver justice, particularly in cases concerning former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife. He reiterated PTI’s commitment to what he described as the struggle for “true freedom,” vowing that the movement would continue until its objectives were achieved.

Protests force Gandapur off stage

However, the rally descended into chaos after party workers refused to listen to Gandapur’s speech and staged a protest inside the venue.

A section of participants began chanting slogans during the chief minister’s address, disrupting the proceedings. The protesters not only shouted against Gandapur but also threw bottles towards the stage, forcing him to cut his speech short.

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Following his departure from the microphone, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan attempted to address the gathering. However, the protesting workers turned their slogans towards him as well, brandishing shoes in the air and chanting in defiance.

The situation further deteriorated when male workers broke into the women’s enclosure, with police unable to prevent the breach. The disorder prompted many female participants to leave the venue.

Gohar vows continued struggle for Imran’s release

Later on, addressing the rally, Chairman PTI Barrister Gohar accused the government of electoral fraud and denounced it as a “puppet regime.

Gohar said that the party’s rally in Peshawar was its eighth since February 8, but maintained that these gatherings were not intended as a show of strength. “This does not mean we are staging a power show,” he said, adding that Imran Khan’s popularity was unmatched. “Not just Pakistan, but the entire world acknowledges that Khan Sahib enjoys 90 per cent popularity — 200 million Pakistanis rise and sit at his signal.”

Reflecting on recent setbacks, Gohar said that the party’s mandate had been “stolen” after the March 9 polls, compounding the “wounds of February”. “Even then, we had hope that an independent judiciary would safeguard our mandate,” he remarked. However, he lamented that after the passage of the 26th Amendment, “even that hope has dimmed.”

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He accused the authorities of committing injustices against PTI workers and supporters. “Stop the injustices, stop the operations, stop these convictions and disqualifications,” he urged, stressing that the voices of “70 to 90 per cent of Pakistan” could not be silenced.

Gohar also reiterated Khan’s resolve to continue resisting political pressure and legal hurdles. “We will fight for the country and for the law,” he quoted Khan as saying. “I will not compromise, I will not strike any deal. If I live, I will live in this country… and I will not let my nation bow down.”

Concluding his address, the PTI chairman vowed that the struggle for Khan’s release would continue across every forum. “Every effort will be made — on the streets, in the courts and in the assemblies,” he said. He expressed confidence that “with your efforts, Khan Sahib’s release will be made possible, and so will Bushra Bibi’s.”

The rally, organised in Peshawar, drew PTI supporters from across the country, according to the party’s social media accounts. The event was streamed online after television channels refrained from broadcasting it live.

Although, The gathering was marred by some organizational lapses, as reports emerged of male workers forcing entry into the women’s section, prompting several female attendees to leave early despite police efforts to restore order.

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PTI leader Faisal Javed announced that video messages from Khan would be shown during the rally. A clip of the PTI chief addressing a previous gathering was screened, while other party leaders used the occasion to reaffirm their loyalty and opposition to military operations.

Earlier, Peshawar’s Chief Capital Police Officer Mian Saeed Ahmad had issued detailed security and traffic plans to ensure the smooth conduct of the rally.