Mansehra (Web Desk): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday said that despite a "temporary suspension" of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest, the movement will continue as long as party leader Imran Khan directs.
This announcement came after law enforcement forces dispersed PTI supporters in a midnight operation, effectively ending the mass protests.
Speaking at a press conference in Mansehra, Gandapur emphasized that the protest, which was initiated on orders of party founder by Imran Khan, is not simply a political rally but part of a larger struggle for Pakistan's future.
He pointed to the ongoing violence and repression by the government against PTI supporters, accusing the authorities of using unlawful detentions, violent tactics against protesters, and restricting the basic right to assemble peacefully.
Gandapur also noted that the party had repeatedly been denied permission to hold peaceful demonstrations.
Despite claims of PTI's commitment to peaceful protest, Gandapur criticized the government for responding to their attempts at peaceful expression with force.
He emphasized that the party’s protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, planned to be non-violent, was met with police aggression.
"The protest will continue for as long as Imran Khan, the leader of our movement, decides to call it off," Gandapur said, adding that "This is not just about politics, but a fight for the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan."
The KP CM condemned the extreme measures taken by the government against PTI members, claiming that many had been injured or killed in the violent clashes.
Gandapur said that peaceful protests were met with gunfire, resulting in deaths and serious injuries among PTI supporters. "Our movement has always been peaceful, but the government has responded with brutality," he said, pledging that the protest will persist until Khan orders its conclusion.
As the crackdown subsided, life in Islamabad began to return to normal. Authorities confirmed the reopening of business activities, while educational institutions are set to reopen on Thursday.
Meanwhile, key motorways, including the Islamabad-Lahore motorway (M-2) and the Lahore-Sialkot motorway, which had been shut down for several days, have also resumed operations.
