• Tells lawmakers police, Rangers ‘attacked’ him, ransacked KP House; claims he was there all along
• Legislature demands constitutional amendment be put on hold; seeks action over KP House ‘attack’
• Asad Qaiser says party won’t remain ‘suppressed’, demands cases against Imran, others be withdrawn

PESHAWAR: After a mysterious day-long disappearance, Khyber Pakh­tun­khwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur surfaced in Peshawar as he arrived in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly in the evening to address the lawmakers about events that transpired before he vanished into thin air.

Amid applause, the ‘missing’ chief executive made his entry into the house that had passed three resolutions by the time he arrived — one about his ‘immediate release’ and action against the law enforcers who had trespassed into KP House in Islamabad in pursuit of the CM.

The CM had led a caravan of thousands of protesters into Islamabad via Taxila, but following a brief appearance at Express Chowk on Jinnah Avenue in the federal capital on Saturday evening, the CM went straight to the KP House after which he went ‘missing’, fuelling speculations he had been detained.

This is the second time that the CM has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

In his fiery speech in the provincial assembly, the KP chief minister called for negotiations for the sake of the country, the Constitution, and the next generation.

He claimed he was present at the KP House during the police raid, adding that the Islamabad police chief and the paramilitary Rangers attacked the KP House.

He called for Islamabad IG Ali Nasir Rizvi to tender an apology for the KP House raid and said the police chief would have to foot the bill for everything he had ‘smashed’ there. According to Mr Gandapur, law enforcers had already placed a container at the gate of the KP House soon after his arrival.

He alleged that the police and Rangers “attacked” him.

“They informed me there was an FIR but didn’t explain what it was for or the charges. I asked what crime I had committed, and told them if they wanted to arrest me, they could, as instructed by Imran Khan,” he claimed.

The PTI leader claimed the police had assaulted government officials, his security personnel, and the staff of the KP House.

The CM boasted that he had been present on the premises but the police still could not arrest him despite four raids. “I crossed 12 districts to reach here with only three men,” Mr Gandapur said without elaborating on his claim. It may be noted CM Gandapur had arrived in Islamabad via Taxila (a tehsil of Rawalpindi), which is on the border of KP and Punjab.

Speaking about obstructions placed on roads to stop the PTI protesters, CM Gandapur recalled that the PTI government had allowed the JUI-F and the PPP to organise protest marches but hurdles were created for the PTI. “PTI is not allowed to hold public gatherings. What are you afraid of by not allowing us to hold public meetings,” he questioned.

Before CM Gandapur came to the assembly, the lawmakers had issued a 24-hour deadline for his recovery and PA Speaker Babar Saleem Swati had summoned the KP police chief and chief secretary along with the CM’s principal secretary for a report on the ‘mysterious disappearance’ of the chief minister.

The officials were summoned after the KP Assembly adopted three resolutions moved by the provincial minister for law, Aftab Alam Afridi.

“It is inevitable that this house recommends to the speaker KP Assembly to seek a report from all the federal and provincial institutions, constitutional officer-holders, administrative secretaries, and law enforcement agencies, including intelligence agencies,” the first resolution read.

The provincial assembly passed another resolution with a majority vote where the provincial assembly demanded the release of the chief minister, MPAs, and other workers detained by the police, saying in case of non-compliance the federal government and some military officers would be responsible for the situation.

It also demanded action against the Islamabad police and Rangers for ‘criminally trespassing’ into the KP House, calling the KP government’s installation “as sacred as GHQ [the general headquarters in Rawalpindi]”.

The third resolution passed by the house urged parliament to refrain from passing any constitutional amendment without the completion of the Senate and the active involvement of the KP Assembly. The Senate election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been postponed.

Speaking during the session, PTI housing minister Dr Amjad said that a peaceful protest was being led by the chief minister but the law enforcers deployed on the motorway resorted to the tear gas shelling. “KP House is as sacred for KP residents and the lawmakers as the GHQ and the corps commander house is sacred for the establishment,” Dr Amjad Ali said, adding that if the establishment wanted to run a country, they should join parliament. Mr Ali said that they had been asking for a judicial inquiry into the May 9 riots but the federal government was reluctant.

PPP lawmaker Ahmad Karim Kundi claimed the KP chief minister was “hiding”.

“We will oppose the governor’s rule but you will have to deliver,” Mr Kundi said.

In an earlier press conference, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said they would hold a countrywide protest if CM Gandapur was not recovered within the next 24 hours.

Mr Qaiser also demanded the withdrawal of cases filed against PTI founder Imran Khan, PTI lawmakers, and the party workers. He also urged the government to share the proposed constitutional amendments.

“We say it categorically that it was not an attack on Gandapur but every single citizen of the province,” the PTI leader told media persons. He added the protest was their constitutional right. “We cannot be oppressed and we will go to any extent,” Mr Qaiser said.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2024