PTI backtracks on CM Gandapur’s arrest claims

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf retracted claims about the arrest of Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Ali Amin Gandapur and said that he was confined at KP House Islamabad instead, ARY News reported.

In a statement, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson Barrister Saif said that the KP House was besieged and Ali Amin Gandapur was confined. Barrister Saif said that the siege of the KP House is a testament to their ‘success’.

Earlier, CM Gandapur’s brother claimed his arrest while the government sources denied the same.

It was claimed that IG Islamabad police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi arrested the KP chief minister on charges pertaining to an attack on the state and misuse of official protocol.

Omar Ayub, Senior PTI leader also claimed Gandapur’s arrest, saying that he was taken into custody despite obtaining protective bail from the Peshawar High Court. Barrister Saif claimed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad has been sealed after the chief minister’s arrest.

Security sources denies PTI chairman’s claim

Meanwhile, security sources denied PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar’s claim, saying that not even a single bullet was fired on PTI workers from Peshawar to Islamabad.

“Our workers were subjected to straight firing ,” the PTI chairman said.

It is worth mentioning here that the chief minister was in Islamabad along with his convoy to stage a protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

The warrant was issued by Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hussain Zaidi in connection with a case registered at Bahara police station regarding the recovery of illegal arms and liquor. Despite multiple court summons, Gandapur failed to appear before the court.

READ: Islamabad court issues non-bailable warrants for KP CM Gandapur

The judicial magistrate ordered the authorities to arrest Gandapur and produce him before the court on the next hearing, scheduled for October 12.

According to sources, Gandapur was repeatedly summoned by the court but did not appear, prompting the judge to issue the non-bailable arrest warrant.

Centre to issue warning to KP administration

In another development, Pakistan’s federal government has decided to formally issue warning to the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sources said.

“The government has decided to warn the KP province under Article 149 of the constitution,” sources shared.

Provincial government will be restrained from using the government machinery and resources of the province, sources said.

“The prime minister has granted approval of the proposed decision, and after the cabinet’s endorsement the instruction will be issued to the province,” sources shared.

“The provincial government will be prevented from using the government resources,” according to sources.

“The provincial government’s agitating tactics could affect the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s summit meeting in Islamabad, scheduled in October,” sources added.

The federal government sources earlier refuted about any proposal with regard to the governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.