Rawalpindi:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Thursday that they saw no sign that PTI founder and patron-I-chief Imran Khan was released from prison, adding that they reserved the right to protest and would defeat the current system with their strength.
He spoke with journalists outside Adiala prison after meeting the former prime minister.
The KP chief minister, who termed the current regime “fraud and deception”, said the current setup thought they can slave the nation using batons. “They should know that we will beat back with batons against batons and bullets against bullets. If someone shoots at me, those who protect me will shoot back,” he declared.
Gandapur noted that the prospects of PTI’s founder release seemed distant. “We see no evidence that Khan Sahib will be released. We reserve the right to protest and we will defeat this system with our strength.”
He accused the authorities of delaying the prosecution and describing the judiciary as “no longer independent”. “A prosecutor claimed last night that there would be a hearing today – all this is drama. The courts are not free,” he said.
He announced that the upcoming KP budget would be tax-free.
The main minister also said that his meeting with the party’s founder had been detailed, where he instructed KPS Development Funds to be spent on public welfare. “In the past, we used to give funds directly to the members. Now we demand that they submit development schemes that will be examined by a committee before funds are approved,” he explained.
He warned that the National Finance Commission (NFC) shared for the province was delayed and that the meeting had been pushed until August. “If this meeting is not held on time, we will decide a course of action,” he warned.
Gandapur criticized the treatment of Bushra Bibi, IMRAN’s wife, who he said was during house arrest without even family visits. “Never before has anyone treated another person’s wife in this way.”
He said that PTI’s movement would continue with patience and resilience, but that “If human rights are not respected in this country, we will come out onto the streets”.
He said “Those who have taken over this country destroy it”.
KP -chief minister also mentioned IMRAN’s call for dialogue [with the establishment]And noted that the PTI founder was still open to conversations for “the sake of the country”.
Gandapur maintained that the PTI founder also referred to Omar Ayub and said he was the opposition leader.
