“Either it’s You or Us”: Gandapur Issues 90-Day Ultimatum After Lahore Rally
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur delivered a fiery address in Lahore, issuing a 90-day ultimatum to the federal and Punjab governments. Speaking at a gathering of the PTI parliamentary party at the farmhouse of former Senate deputy chairman Mirza Muhammad Afridi near Jati Umrah, Gandapur declared that either Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would achieve its key objectives—most notably, the release of party founder Imran Khan—or its leadership would exit politics entirely.
In an impassioned speech, Gandapur stated that the time for silence had ended. “Either it’s you or us who will survive. Either we succeed, or we quit politics,” he said, asserting that the party would no longer accept what he described as “state-sponsored oppression.” He further warned that if the 26 suspended PTI lawmakers in Punjab were not reinstated, his government would retaliate by suspending all opposition-aligned members holding positions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “I will dismiss all of them who have become chairmen in the opposition,” he announced.
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Gandapur reiterated that the PTI founder was open to dialogue, saying, “Imran Khan has asked for proof that he conspired against the state, and if such evidence exists, he will accept whatever punishment is deemed fit.” However, he stressed that the state should not mistake the party’s patience for weakness.
“You’ve tested our tolerance for too long,” Gandapur warned. “We’ve endured arrests, raids, and violence, but if you push further, be prepared. If I’m unlawfully killed, I won’t die quietly—I’ll fight back.” He questioned the legality of police actions against PTI supporters and asked, “Which law allows punishing people for things that aren’t even crimes?” He claimed 14 PTI workers had been killed, 70 others shot, and numerous homes raided, saying, “Our workers’ homes were broken into, their dignity violated. How long will this continue?”
Calling for unity and a decentralized decision-making approach, Gandapur urged PTI leaders to develop a realistic and actionable plan. “This is not the time to impose decisions. Let every member contribute in their own way,” he said. Highlighting Pakistan’s debt crisis—now at Rs76 trillion—he stressed that silence would only push the country further into economic despair and political subjugation. “If we don’t hold institutions and governments accountable, our fate will be more debt and more slavery.”
He emphasized that political change required resistance. “If you keep getting beaten without responding, there will be no revolution—you must stand up,” he declared. Gandapur invoked Islamic principles to justify standing against injustice. “Islam gives us the right to respond. We are not seeking violence—we are demanding justice and representation,” he said. He concluded by asserting that PTI’s mission remains peaceful and constitutional. “We’re carrying the message of love, law, and democracy. But if the state forces us to act, we will respond.”
Speaking after Gandapur, PTI leader Ali Muhammad Khan said the party’s struggle was not new. “Our mandate was stolen in 2013, and in 2018 a system was created to reduce our majority,” he stated. He added that Imran Khan’s incarceration was not just political but linked to his strong stance on religious beliefs. “He is being punished for defending the finality of Prophethood,” he claimed. Calling Lahore “the political Kaaba of Pakistan,” he said, “If we are united here, we can energize the entire country.”
This escalation came shortly after PTI’s leadership assembled in Lahore to begin finalizing its protest roadmap. A high-level convoy led by Gandapur and PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had reached Lahore on Saturday after traveling from Islamabad through cities like Jhelum, Wazirabad, and Ferozwala. The purpose was to demonstrate unity and prepare for what the party described as its “Azadi Tehreek” or Freedom Movement, in response to the suspension of 26 Punjab Assembly lawmakers.
Upon arrival, the PTI leadership met at Mirza Afridi’s farmhouse near Jati Umrah, where they discussed political strategies, alliances, and a timeline leading up to August 5. Although PTI emphasized that the visit was not a protest, tensions briefly erupted in Shahdara when Punjab police detained four PTI workers, including Engineer Yasir Gilani. The detentions were criticized by party leaders and viewed as a continuation of political harassment.
Party leaders clarified that the visit was a peaceful consultative exercise. Barrister Gohar reiterated that no protest was planned and dismissed any suggestions of political confrontation. Still, PTI leader Junaid Akbar indicated that the gathering was only the beginning. “This convoy is a message of unity behind our founder. Our protest will peak by August 5,” he said. The strategic meeting concluded with commitments to continued coordination and further action as PTI prepares for the next phase of its political movement.
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