Lahore:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has challenged political forces that threaten to remove his government and claim that PTI formed his government in KP on the basis of his own strength, not through anyone’s support.
Gandapur made the comments as they approached party leaders and spoke with the media during a collection at a farm in Lahores Raiwind Road on Saturday. KP CM arrived in Lahore on Saturday night and brought a convoy of PTI legislators with PTI chairman Gohar Ali Khan.
Launch of a sharp criticism of Jui-F chief Fazlur Rehman, Gandapur said that the leader of the religious party was misleading voters and lacked public support. The PTI leader claimed the public had “rejected” the Jui-F chief.
“It would be better if Maulana brought changes in herself instead of trying to impose KP. Fazlur Rehman was elected through a false mandate and has no authority to speak on behalf of the population of the province,” he added.
Gandapur said that FAZL has only one national assembly and two provincial assembly seats on profits, while the rest was secured through alleged manipulation via Form 47. “He misleading the people, which is why he was unable to win in his own constituency,” he claimed.
He also announced the launch of a new political movement, as he said, would begin in Lahore.
“Every time a movement starts from Lahore, it resonates over Pakistan,” he said, emphasizing that the campaign would be shaped by the realities of the earth and performed in consultation with party leaders. He promised to intensify the movement from August 5 and urged supporters to prepare for a decisive act.
Gandapur, who dealt with ongoing political tensions, also criticized the recent suspension of opposition members from the Punjab assembly and called the move illegal.
He warned that if such actions continued, he would answer by removing committee chairmen appointed by the Punjab government in KP. Gandapur reiterated his party’s attitude that former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned, is innocent and faces politically motivated charges.
“There is no case against our leader,” he said, adding that the direction of the movement should be shaped by the country’s political circumstances rather than comparisons between Punjab and KP.
Previously, a convoy of PTI legislators arrived at Lahore from Islamabad, signaling what party officers described as the beginning of a renewed political movement. The visit came in the midst of increased police presence, arrests of party workers and escalating tension with the Punjab government.
The convoy arrived at Raiwind Road Farmhouse of Senate former Vice President Mirza Muhammad Afridi, located near the Sharif family’s property in Lahore. A dinner and strategic meetings of PTI’s parliamentary committee were planned on the room.
According to Party Insiders, discussions would center on protest planning and regulatory reactions to the recent suspension of PTI legislators in the Punjab assembly.
Given the prevailing political climate of both Punjab and KP, the meetings are considered politically significant. Negotiations are also expected to tackle the future political strategy and the potential for alliances between regional power blocks.
Previously, the convoy’s arrival in Shahdara’s mother was greeted with a heavy deployment of the Punjab police.
According to PTI sources, officers arrested four party workers, including Lahore-based ticket holder Yasir Gilani. Although Gilani was later released, the arrests caused fresh accusations of political harassment by the PTI management. Media access to the site was limited and a scheduled press interaction was allegedly canceled due to security concerns.
Earlier in Jhelum, Gandapur declared that the management formulated a roadmap to maintain the movement through at least 5 August. “We want agreement through consultation. Our management and workers are in prison, but our commitment is still unwavering,” he said.
Meanwhile, the PTI chairman’s barmist Gohar Ali Khan confirmed that any announcement of the protest campaign would come directly from party -founder Imran Khan. He said the Lahore visit was intended to meet party laws and complete the movement’s future direction within the law.
Punjab Assembly opposition leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar welcomed the convoy in a video message and called it a “symbolic awakening” of Punjab. “The people of Lahore are on the streets to welcome their leaders,” he said.
Political mobilization takes place on the basis of June 27 -SUS pension of 26 PTI legislators after their protest under CM Maryam Nawaz’s address to the Punjab assembly.
Since then, thousands of PTI workers have reportedly been arrested or charged when the party rams its opposition to the policy of the provincial government.
“PTI has now formally launched his protest movement,” Bhachar declared. “Raids are underway across Punjab and we are not afraid of these arrests. Our central leadership and parliamentary parties from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab meet in Lahore to end our course of action.”
Formerly converging PTI legislators including both parliamentarians from Punjab as well as provincial assembly members in Islamabad to attend a meeting called by CM Gandapur in the KP house.
Gandapur emphasized that KP’s leadership intends to work with the opposition for political stability in the country. He repeated PTI’s obligation to continue to raise his vote within constitutional limits and on all available forums.
