By Irum Saleem
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is gone ‘missing’ this time again.
The PTI’s protest in Islamabad and Lahore have achieved one thing that the government of PMLN simply panicked and chocked.
“PTI supporters have flocked to D-Chowk as heavy rain in Islamabad dampened the effect of tear gas shelling by the police,” reports Dawn.
The PTI protesters occupied D-Chowk as police were forced back after smoke from the shot tear gas shells flowed back over to the law enforcement personnel due to the strong gusty winds. Law enforcement personnel later returned to D-Chowk after the rain subsided.
Key developments so far — PTI claims CM Gandapur arrested by Rangers from KP House, Mobile and internet services still suspended in twin cities, interior minister says 120 Afghans arrested in 48 hours, 41 from protest, Army deployed in Punjab
ڈی چوک میں سٹریٹ فائرنگ ہو رہی ہے ہم نہیں چاہتے انتشار پھیلے میں ابھی خیبرپختونخوا ہاؤس جا رہا ہوں،
— Ahmad Hassan Bobak (@ahmad__bobak) October 5, 2024
علی امین خان گنڈاپور pic.twitter.com/ieHASoVRzo
🚨Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is being held hostage in exchange for calling off the protest. We reject such degrading and illegal blackmail. THE PROTEST will go on! Any negotiations can happen with the ONE leader Imran Khan. Keeping your own CM hostage is a new low in our…
— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) October 5, 2024
🔴 LIVE | Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Massive Protest | Lahore & Islamabad | Imran Khan's Final Call https://t.co/MmCXAZwkgi
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 5, 2024
Tense moment in Pakistan. PTI is upping the ante, escalating rhetoric and stepping up protests as Parliament prepares to vote on constitutional amendments that could ban PTI from politics. The govt/mil, uneasy about PTI escalations as SCO summit approaches, is clamping down hard.
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) October 5, 2024
200 PTI workers booked under MPO, ATA, more army contingents called up in Islamabad
“PTI says its political committee decided that the protest would continue and demanded the immediate release of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur,” Dawn reports.
Meanwhile, the situation in the capital continued to remain tense today, a day after violent clashes between PTI supporters and the police, while the party decided to go ahead with its Lahore protest amid blockades and high security.
What options now PTI have in case the establishment doesn’t accept any of its demand.
Will the PTI workers return to KP, this is a million dollar question.
The main thing is that the army has been deployed in Islamabad and Rangers in Punjab.
There needs to be an understanding under which all political players should sit and work for the country’s interest. PAK DESTINY