Imran Khan ready for negotiations, Gandapur tells LHC Bar
Says PTI founder open to negotiating for Pakistan's sake only as he is not after power: Claims 2024 elections were rigged: Says country can no longer be run with batons:
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Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur on Thursday addressed the Lahore High Court Bar Association and conveyed that PTI founder Imran Khan is willing to hold negotiations for the sake of Pakistan, not for power.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, Gandapur quoted the former prime minister as saying that acquiring power is not his objective. He criticised the state’s increasing reliance on force, declaring, “The country can no longer be run with batons.”
Gandapur also alleged that the 2024 general elections were marred by blatant rigging. “If slaves will decide our future, we too will become slaves,” he said, expressing deep frustration over alleged foreign interference and puppet decision-making.
Internal rift between PTI's leadership and Gandapur deepens
It is noteworthy that the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is witnessing serious internal strife. On April 4, former provincial minister Taimur Jhagra openly challenged CM Gandapur and criticised the party’s Internal Accountability Committee, even releasing a written rebuttal on social media.
Efforts to reconcile CM Gandapur and senior party leader Atif Khan have failed, while ex-Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser has also shown displeasure, claiming he was sidelined in talks with Pir Pagara and others.
Additionally, MNA Junaid Akbar has reportedly removed several of Gandapur’s allies from the provincial cabinet, further intensifying the internal crisis.
Imran gets written report on PTI-US delegation meeting issue
Two days earlier, on April 15, a high-level meeting took place in Adiala Jail between PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and party founder Imran Khan. The meeting covered recent controversies, including a sensitive engagement between PTI leaders Atif Khan, Dr Amjad, and an American delegation.
Sources reported that Imran Khan was presented with a written report on the meeting but chose not to comment, merely taking a deep breath.
Later the same day, Imran Khan met with his legal team—comprising Barrister Gohar, Faisal Chaudhry, Salman Safdar Advocate, Roy Salman Kharal, and Ali Imran Shahzad—for 35 minutes in the jail’s conference room. They discussed ongoing court cases, political developments, and the recurring issue of family being denied visitation rights.
Govt dismisses foreign pressure
A day earlier, on April 14, Federal Minister for Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain dismissed the notion of foreign pressure to release Imran Khan. Speaking in Sheikhupura, he emphasised, “No country can pressure Pakistan in this matter. Imran Khan is facing court cases.”