CM Gandapur warns of armed retaliation if PTI protests face crackdown

As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan gave the green light for his party to launch street protests demanding his release and that of incarcerated party workers, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur issued a stark warning, threatening armed retaliation in case of a violent crackdown.

“This is our clear announcement, if they fire bullets at us, as they did before despite us being innocent, then this time, we will also bring weapons, and we will shoot back,” Gandapur stated.

Reaffirming his commitment to PTI’s cause, Gandapur also called on overseas Pakistanis to mobilise and hold demonstrations in support of the jailed former prime minister. He claimed that PTI supporters abroad had the advantage of protesting freely without facing violence from authorities.

"Raise your voice for Imran Khan. They cannot shoot at you because they are slaves of foreign countries. You can protest openly and unequivocally raise your voice for Imran Khan," he said.

Imran Khan assumes role of Patron-in-Chief of PTI: Barrister Gohar

Gandapur emphasised that the party’s protest strategy would remain confidential this time around.

“We will not make the plan of the movement public this time. The strategy is being planned. Now I will dig a trench or a tunnel and bring people from all over Pakistan,” he added.

When asked whether he supported protests against the Army Chief in the United States, Gandapur replied, “Not only in America, but in any corner of the world, if someone is protesting for Imran Khan, we are with them in every way.”

Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan also clarified that the PTI founder has ruled out any protest plan inIslamabad.

Read: PTI plans nationwide protest under Imran Khan's direction from prison

Gandapur alleged that a coordinated campaign to dismantle PTI is being carried out by all govenremnt insitutions.

“The one-point agenda of all institutions is ‘End Imran Khan, End PTI.’ But we cannot be ended. However, we will end the occupying mafia of the past 78 years, and true freedom will come,” he declared.