Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said Sunday that PTI founder Imran Khan is willing to hold talks with those who “hold real power” in Pakistan, as the party formally launched a nationwide movement aimed at restoring democracy and securing Khan’s release.
Speaking at a news conference in Lahore alongside senior PTI leaders, Gandapur emphasised that former prime minister Imran Khan would only engage in dialogue with stakeholders who hold actual decision-making authority. “Imran Khan has made it clear — dialogue will only happen with those who hold the mandate,” he said.
“It does not matter if they [the establishment] invite those who formed governments through Form 47 to sit in the negotiations or not,” he added in response to a question.
Gandapur said that although the party has remained active over the past two years, it is now embarking on a structured 90-day campaign, culminating in a major milestone on August 5. “This is not a protest for political mileage — this is a battle for the constitutional rights of the people,” he said. “By August 5, we aim to take this movement to its peak. After that, we will decide whether we continue politics under the current conditions.”
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In a sharp rebuke of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Gandapur accused him of benefiting from “Form 47”. He challenged Fazlur Rehman to contest a by-election in Dera Ismail Khan against his brother, Faisal Amin Gandapur, and vowed to permanently quit politics if his brother lost.
Gandapur further alleged that Fazlur Rehman remains in covert alliance with the establishment. “He claims our mandate is fake, but he himself admitted that he acted against our government at the behest of former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa,” he said.
Turning to the broader political climate, Gandapur condemned what he described as a renewed “fascist crackdown” on PTI and its supporters. He alleged that party workers were subjected to torture following the events of May 9 and accused the state of continuing to suppress PTI’s constitutional right to protest.
“We are being denied our rights. Our rallies are blocked before they begin, and our leaders are jailed without cause,” he said, reiterating the party’s call for permission to hold a rally in Lahore.
He also asserted that there is no legal basis for the cases against Imran Khan. “The courts haven’t proceeded because there’s nothing to proceed with. Our leader is innocent,” Gandapur said. He claimed that the state’s actions had backfired by raising public awareness. “The nation proved on February 8 that it is fully aware of what’s happening.”
Criticising the role of state institutions, Gandapur accused them of overreach and undermining democracy. “Security agencies have abandoned their constitutional responsibilities. Instead of guarding the borders or fighting terrorism, they are targeting us,” he said. “The biggest political actors in Pakistan today are the institutions themselves.”
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He dismissed claims of internal divisions within PTI, calling them a narrative “engineered by decision-makers” to weaken the party. “We may have disagreements, but our mission is united — Imran Khan’s release and Pakistan’s restoration,” he said.
PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja echoed this stance, stating that the party’s unity in Lahore demonstrated unwavering support for Khan. “His release is not just the party’s goal — it’s the nation’s demand. February 8 will not be forgotten,” Raja said.
Concluding the press conference, Gandapur renewed his offer for negotiations, urging “the beneficiaries and hijackers of the system” to come to the table. He warned that if dialogue does not take place in good faith, “every actor proven guilty will have to face the consequences — not just PTI.”
