The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has issued a two-week deadline for the release of its imprisoned founder, Imran Khan. The dramatic declaration came during a large rally held in Sangjani locality, Islamabad, on Sunday, amid clashes with police and heightened security measures.
In a charged address to rally participants, Gandapur vowed that if Khan was not legally released within the given deadline of two weeks, PTI would take matters into its own hands, asserting, “We will have him freed ourselves. I will lead the charge and take the first bullet.”
The rally, which had faced multiple postponements due to permission revocations, was finally granted approval to proceed under a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued earlier in the week. Authorities had previously blocked the rally in July and August, drawing sharp criticism from PTI leaders and supporters for the delays.
Security was on high alert as multiple roads leading to the federal capital were closed off by the Islamabad district administration. This move followed the enactment of the “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024,” signed into law by President Asif Ali Zardari just a day before the rally. The new law aims to regulate public gatherings and maintain order.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar opened the rally with a speech accusing the current rulers of fearing Khan and his supporters. He also announced plans to expand the movement to Punjab, urging party workers to prepare for a major push. Azhar highlighted the imprisonment of key PTI figures, including Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Umar Sarfraz Cheema, and expressed solidarity with them.
Firebrand politician Sher Afzal Marwat echoed these sentiments, pledging to mobilize 50,000 supporters from KP to Punjab within a week, despite potential confrontations with authorities. Marwat emphasized the commitment to confront tear gas and other obstacles.
Muhammad Ali Khan, another PTI leader, lamented the imprisonment of Khan and the exile of other party leaders, such as Qasim Suri and Shehryar Afridi. He called for the release of Khan and the restoration of constitutional supremacy, warning that failure to comply would result in a powerful public response.
The rally faced a formal deadline for conclusion set by the Islamabad district administration, which mandated that the event end by 7pm. Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon warned that failure to adhere to the deadline would constitute a violation of the NOC, leading to enforcement actions.
As the deadline approached, the district administration instructed the police to shut down the rally and close entry points to the city. When the event continued past the deadline, clashes erupted between PTI workers and police. Demonstrators pelted stones at law enforcement, injuring several officers, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shoaib Khan.
Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi responded to the violence by calling for the best medical care for the injured officers and deploying additional forces to the scene of the clashes at Chungi No 26.
