The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has revised its earlier statements about the arrest of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, now clarifying that authorities confined him at KP House Islamabad instead.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif reported that KP House was under siege, interpreting the situation as evidence of their “success.”
Previously, confusion arose when CM Gandapur’s brother announced his arrest, which government sources later denied. Claims surfaced from Islamabad Police’s IG Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi about the arrest of the KP chief minister on charges related to an attack on the state and misuse of official protocol.
Senior PTI leader Omar Ayub also asserted Gandapur’s arrest despite the chief minister having secured protective bail from the Peshawar High Court. Barrister Saif later stated that the KP House was sealed following what he called an “arrest.”
Read: KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur Arrested in Islamabad
In contrast, security sources contested PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar’s claim of violence against PTI workers, asserting that no violence occurred during their journey from Peshawar to Islamabad. “Our workers were subjected to straight firing,” claimed the PTI chairman.
It’s important to note that the chief minister was in Islamabad with his convoy to participate in a protest at D-Chowk. Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hussain Zaidi issued a warrant for his arrest tied to a case at Bahara Police Station involving the recovery of illegal arms and liquor. Gandapur’s failure to respond to multiple court summons led to the judge issuing a non-bailable arrest warrant, commanding his appearance in court on October 12.
In further developments, the federal government has issued a formal warning to the KP administration under Article 149 of the constitution. This decision, approved by the Prime Minister and endorsed by the cabinet, will restrict the provincial government from utilizing governmental machinery and resources, citing concerns over the potential impact of the provincial government’s actions on the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad.
Federal government sources previously denied any considerations regarding imposing the governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
