Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said that work is in progress on matters for the transfer of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail, adding that he has brought things to black and white in this regard.

“Now if the other party backs down, it means they will backtrack from their word,” he said.

Speaking during Samaa TV program, ‘Nadeem Malik Live’, Gandapur said a delegation would be sent to Afghanistan this month for talks, and all matters would be settled in consultation with the federal government, and they would move forward only with the will of the Centre and institutions.

The KP chief minister said that in his meeting with the army chief, he had advocated bringing all parties on board, while all political parties were present during that meeting. Without the cooperation of the people, the war against terrorism could not be fought, he insisted, adding that the army chief told them to sit with the federal government.

“I am working for political stability. If there is no political stability, the country cannot move forward,” he remarked.

November 26, 2024

In response to a question regarding the November 26, 2024 PTI protests, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur claimed that on the day, PTI protesters were stopped by opening fire on them at the behest of the government.

He maintained that whoever fired the bullets was their culprit, adding that the prime minister had been told they had proof regarding the Nov 26 events, to which Ishaq Dar said they would discuss it in the negotiations for forming a commission on the incidents.

The CM said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and Barrister Saif had talked to the establishment about shifting the Nov 26 protests to Sangjani. He, however, said he had told party leaders to get permission from Imran Khan about going to Sangjani, who should also be making any announcement in this regard.

Imran Khan’s transfer from jail

The KP CM said that the PTI’s official contacts with the powers-that-be started after October 4. “I am the chief minister; I have maintained official contacts. It was suggested that the PTI founder should be transferred somewhere and continue back-channel talks with him. But he wants his workers to be released first before his transfer,” Gandapur revealed.

He said there was a proposal to have a sit-down meeting with PTI Founder Imran Khan, adding that the proposal involved shifting Imran Khan to Nathia Gali or the KP Chief Minister's House. “It’s not that he himself wanted to go anywhere, but he had said that the talks should be held here only.”

80% issues settled

Ali Amin Gandapur claimed that before November 26, 2024, 80% of the issues for the transfer of the PTI founder had been settled, while after that, the progress was 99%. He added that the matter is still in process, while several people, including himself, were working for the transfer.

“I will meet the PTI founder and the establishment to settle the issues, but the number of meetings has decreased a little now. However, now I have brought things to black and white and the other side is speechless. Now, if they back down, it means they will backtrack from their word,” he stressed.

The CM clarified that on November 26, he did not leave Bushra Bibi alone anywhere, adding that he had left her for a while to clear the way. “Bushra Bibi and I were the last people to leave from D-Chowk. If Bushra Bibi says I left her alone, then I will give my next statement. If something had happened to her, how will I have faced the entire province?” he maintained.

Gandapur further said that the PTI founder’s letter to the army chief is a good sign, adding that it remains to be seen what response Gen Asim Munir has to give.

He said no one could say he has created groups within the party. “Imran Khan has removed me from the party’s KP presidency, so there is no objection. Shakeel Khan was not removed by me but by a committee formed by the PTI founder, and the committee reported that Shakeel and the secretary should be removed. We have started an investigation into the wheat purchased during the caretaker government,” he remarked.