PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, stating that the provincial government would follow his directives, including civil disobedience.
Addressing international media representatives at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, Gandapur said the law-and-order situation in the country had deteriorated since the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition took over, adding that state institutions were preoccupied with dismantling PTI instead of addressing national challenges.
“The situation during Imran Khan’s government was much better. But after PDM’s arrival, the focus shifted entirely to ending PTI,” he alleged, media reported.
Gandapur claimed significant achievements under his administration, highlighting improved governance and security measures.
He said police forces had been deployed to frontline positions in sensitive areas, and efforts were underway to strengthen security in merged districts.
“We are fighting terrorism on the front line. Compared to other provinces, our performance has been the best. In the last nine months, we’ve increased revenue by 44% and met the IMF targets that no other province has achieved,” he said.
The chief minister noted the release of unprecedented development funds, saying his government had disbursed more in six months than previous administrations did in a year. He added that a public complaints portal had been launched to address governance issues.
Key initiatives included forming a dedicated mining company for efficient resource management and laying power transmission lines from local power plants to improve energy access. Gandapur called these projects critical to K-P’s development.
Gandapur expressed frustration with the federal government, accusing it of not taking serious steps to resolve cross-border issues with Afghanistan. “We’ve repeatedly emphasised the need for dialogue with Afghanistan during apex committee meetings. Our province has suffered the most due to cross-border issues, but Islamabad has failed to act decisively,” he said.
K-P chief minister also highlighted K-P’s sacrifices, noting the extensive losses faced by the province due to its long border with Afghanistan. “Our police and security forces are making sacrifices daily to ensure peace, yet there’s no recognition of their efforts at the federal level,” he remarked.
“We are fully prepared to execute Khan’s decisions once details are provided. The struggle for constitutional rights, Khan’s release, and the restoration of our mandate will continue,” he added.
He also criticised the treatment of PTI workers during protests, claiming that hundreds had been injured or detained. “We have serious concerns over missing workers and the violence inflicted upon them. The sacrifices we’ve made for democracy and freedom are unmatched,” he said. –Agencies
