PESHAWAR: Ali Amin Gandapur, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and proposed chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has decided to stage a massive peaceful protest in Peshawar today against the alleged “rigging” in the recently held general elections, vowing to continue the legal fight, The News reported on Saturday.
Ali, who was nominated by his party for the top KP post following his victories in the NA-44 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) and PK-113 constituencies, shared the party’s plans during his first-ever meeting to consult with his fellow newly-elected lawmakers, former party candidates, and other PTI leaders from the provincial capital on various political issues.
During the meeting, the PTI leadership decided to hold a protest rally against the suspected rigging in Peshawar on Saturday.
Ali arrived in Peshawar a day earlier and met with PTI leaders from the capital at the speaker’s house.
Following his father’s death, the chief minister nominee was visited by KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, who came to express their condolences for his loss.
Aside from them, the eight PTI candidates who lost their seats in the February 8 general elections were invited to the party’s meeting with the chosen chief minister.
They were Taimur Jhagra, Kamran Bangash, Mehmood Jan, Ali Zaman, Arbab Jahandad, Mohammad Asim Khan, Hamid ul Haq, and Sajid Nawaz.
Bangash told The News that they addressed numerous party problems but did not discuss the government, cabinet member selection, or portfolio distribution.
Bangash, a former minister, said that all eight PTI candidates won the poll according to Form 45, but the district returning officer (DRO) and returning officers (ROs) modified their results in Form 47 and proclaimed them losers.
He stated that the chief minister-designate has promised to use all possible alternatives to return the people of Peshawar’s mandate to them.
According to sources, Ali Amin Gandapur has made judgments regarding his 15-member cabinet, five advisors, and ten special assistants, appointing Jhagra and Bangash as advisors on health, sports, and culture.
Mushtaq Ghani, who is also running for chief minister, was reportedly appointed higher education minister, followed by Mian Khaliqur Rahman for excise and taxation, Arif Ahmadzai for mines and minerals, Shakil Khan for revenue, and Akbar Ayub for local government.
Bangash disagreed with these assertions, claiming that nothing like this was addressed during their meeting with Gandapur.
