A special session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly was convened to devise a strategy concerning the mysterious disappearance of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. However, during the session, Gandapur himself appeared, delivered a familiar, long-winded speech, and claimed that he had been in Islamabad for the last 24 hours, but somehow avoided detection by the police. However, he did not explain whom he met or why he had gone “into hiding” this time.
Previously, last month, after delivering a provocative speech at a PTI rally in Islamabad’s Sangjani area, Gandapur mysteriously vanished when the government began arresting PTI leaders. After remaining “missing” for seven to eight hours, he suddenly reappeared in Peshawar, claiming that he had attended an “important meeting.” Even then, Gandapur did not reveal whom he had met or what the discussions were about, and PTI did not feel the need to offer an apology for his disappearance. Instead, the party accused the government and agencies of kidnapping their leader, without seeking clarification from Gandapur as to why he went on a mysterious mission when the entire PTI leadership was facing arrests and police brutality.
This backdrop raises serious questions about Gandapur's role and sincerity. Once again, he seemingly set out for a protest and sit-in at Islamabad's D Ground, leaving from Peshawar, but upon reaching Islamabad, he suddenly diverted to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House.
Meanwhile, police and Rangers were engaged in controlling the protesters, which included many officers from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police force. Eleven of these officers were arrested by the federal police. In response, PTI accused the Rangers of raiding KP House and claimed that Gandapur had been arrested. Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser labeled the incident a kidnapping and gave an ultimatum of 24 hours for Gandapur’s release. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat issued a notice that the session would address the “kidnapping” of the chief minister. However, when Gandapur reappeared and admitted to hiding of his own accord, the assembly burst into applause, with no member questioning the justification behind PTI’s allegations of kidnapping and falsehoods.
During a TV interview, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi commented that Gandapur was “playing on both sides of the wicket.” Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, accused Gandapur of undermining Pakistan’s efforts to recover from the economic crisis and attempting to sabotage an upcoming international conference in Islamabad.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, set to take place in Islamabad, has drawn international attention, particularly with India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar leading the Indian delegation. PTI’s sudden protest in Islamabad, despite the imposition of Article 144, caused concern among various quarters.
The propaganda and protests surrounding Gandapur’s disappearance appear baseless, raising serious questions about political integrity. Was PTI aware of Gandapur’s voluntary disappearance but used it to incite the public for political gain? Was this irresponsible strategy a sign of desperation after the failure of earlier protests, or was PTI merely trying to mobilize its disillusioned supporters? Such behavior from a political party aspiring to govern the country through elections is alarming, and PTI’s failure to apologize or clarify their position on the matter further damages its credibility.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also hinted at another aspect of the issue, suggesting that Gandapur might be playing a double game—publicly aligning with Imran Khan’s political fight, while privately siding with the establishment. The real question now is: what role does Imran Khan himself play in this drama?
Islamabad police have arrested over 500 individuals, claiming many were professionals brought in to cause unrest. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s financial resources and government officials were also reportedly involved. The federal government is now investigating KP’s role in these events. If Gandapur is truly a courageous leader, why does he consistently disappear or arrive late at critical moments? Does Imran Khan know about his dual role, or is he also complicit in Gandapur’s theatrics?
If Gandapur remains the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after his latest disappearance, and if Imran Khan is willing to meet him in jail, the questions will not be about Gandapur’s actions but about Imran Khan’s intentions.
Imran Khan seems to be pursuing a strategy of unrest and violence to achieve his political goals, using social media campaigns to falsely claim that the establishment is pleading with him for reconciliation. In reality, the situation is quite the opposite. After all this turmoil, Khan should recognize that PTI can only remain a viable political force by returning to a positive, parliamentary path.
Lawlessness, violence, and incitement will only create more challenges for PTI, making the path to power even more difficult.
