Gandapur to discuss Imran-establishment tensions in Apex Committee meeting

• KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur confirms he will attend top-level meeting.
• We don't need anybody’s permission to hold protest march: KP CM
• Provincial chief expresses his concerns over law and order situation.
  

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is all set to discuss Imran Khan, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) November 24 protest march, and their ongoing tension with the establishment in the Apex Committee meeting, where he will be sitting face-to-face with the top military leadership.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called a meeting of the Apex Committee, which will see the participation of Chief of Army Staff general Asim Munir, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, Military Intelligence DG, Intelligence Bureau DG, all provincial chief ministers, key federal ministers, and others as its members to discuss the law and order situation with special reference to the surging incidents of terrorism.

Gandapur, when approached by The News, said he would attend the top-level apex committee meeting. Earlier, it was indicated the meeting will be held on Monday (today) but the chief minister said it was scheduled for Tuesday.

When asked if he would discuss in the apex body the November 24 protest march of PTI and issues relating to Khan and his party, he said: “I will not discuss politics. Neither do we need anybody’s permission to hold the protest march.”

He, however, said when you discuss law and order situation and the National Action Plan, then the situation faced by  Khan and PTI is bound to be discussed. He said he would raise these issues. He disclosed that he has been discussing these issues in the past apex body meetings.

Referring to the ongoing tensions between the PTI and the establishment, he said this situation was not in favour of anyone. “It’s neither in the interest of PTI nor that of Pakistan and the institution (of army),” he said, adding such issues need to be resolved.

The chief minister talked about the hardships faced by the PTI and its leadership. When asked about Khan’s aggressive tone against the institution and its top leadership, Gandapur first denied it. But when reminded of what the founder chairman has been saying, he said when you put someone behind the bars for so long, he would also speak.

The chief minister also expressed his concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation.

Referring to the sacrifices given by the army and other law-enforcing agencies in their fight against terrorism, he said: “We respect and honour their sacrifices for the people and country."

According to media reports, the Apex Committee will be briefed on the current security situation and actions taken by the authorities to curb terrorism. 

Recently terrorist incidents have increased, particularly in KP and Balochistan. In October alone, 48 terrorist attacks were reported resulting in 100 deaths.

In such a situation, PTI’s protest march to Islamabad on November 24 becomes an issue of concern for security agencies and is, therefore, expected to be discussed by the top civil-military leadership.

Originally published in The News