MANSEHRA – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reaffirmed on Wednesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sit-in is a continuous movement, emphasizing that it will persist until directed otherwise by the party’s founder, Imran Khan. Speaking at a press conference in Mansehra, alongside Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub, Gandapur stressed that PTI remains a peaceful party advocating for the rule of law, constitutional protection, and true democratic freedoms.
“Our movement will continue,” Gandapur stated. “We have been striving for our rights, but for the last two and a half years, we have faced relentless oppression. Cases have been fabricated against our leadership, and our mandate was stolen. Our leader is jailed under false accusations, and our voters have been victimized.”
Gandapur expressed frustration over the lack of justice and accountability, adding that the PTI’s peaceful protests and demands for justice have been met with violence and force. He mentioned that the party’s peaceful gatherings were routinely met with police brutality and that they were denied permission for rallies, even in Islamabad.
Gandapur stated, “We have been forced to demonstrate without official approval”. Every time we requested permission for rallies, our efforts were met with aggression.” We were shot at, and our workers were attacked. We have been compiling data on our martyrs and those who have been arrested.”
The Chief Minister recounted personal instances of being targeted during protests, mentioning that both he and his party members, including Bushra Bibi, were fired upon during recent demonstrations. He also criticized the government for worsening the country’s economy while suppressing peaceful protests.
“The government has pushed us into responding in this way,” Gandapur said. “ We went peacefully, so why were we shot at?”
Gandapur praised the dedication of PTI supporters, highlighting their sacrifices for future generations and the cause of true freedom. He also vowed to secure the release of arrested workers, pledging solidarity with their families.
In his remarks, Omar Ayub condemned the attacks on Gandapur and Bushra Bibi and expressed admiration for the PTI’s unwavering commitment. He called attention to the bravery of the activists traveling to Islamabad in support of their cause.
It is worth noting that Gandapur, along with Bushra Bibi and Omar Ayub, arrived in Mansehra late at night after a large-scale operation was launched in Islamabad to disperse PTI protesters participating in the sit in organized by Khan.
