No problem with institution but with personalities: Gandapur

RAWALPINDI: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur Saturday said that they have no problem with the “institution” but do have differences with personalities.

Talking to the media in Rawalpindi, Gandapur said that there was no accountability and punishment system in the country while the nation was looking towards the judiciary.

However, he claimed that the whole nation knows that there is pressure on the judiciary while the judiciary has been told if there is pressure on them, they should tell the nation which will stand with them. “The Chief Justice of Pakistan should recuse himself from cases against us,” he maintained.

The KP chief minister said that there was talk in the apex committee about Azm-e-Istehkam but not an operation. He added if there was to be an operation, parliament and the people should be taken on board. “We have no problem with the institution, we have disagreements with personalities. Supremacy of law in the country is necessary and first of all, our mandate should be returned.” Gandapur said that nothing has come out in the fake cases against PTI founder and others. On the question of dialogue, he contended that Imran Khan has been saying that he was ready for negotiations but first withdraw the ‘fake cases’ and then negotiations will take place.

Regarding the government’s all parties conference, he explained that the decision to participate in the APC had been taken by the party founder and the party will participate in the event and present its viewpoint. “It is not a joke that you just do whatever comes to your mind. Pakistan has a Constitution and there is also a procedure, which will have to be followed,” he maintained.

He alleged what the Federation is doing is against the Constitution and judiciary. “We will hold a rally and the administration should implement the court orders. Under the Constitution, we have the right to hold rallies, processions and protests,” he remarked. Gandapur claimed the government was on crutches and they don’t have the mandate and that it will be dismissed if there is a fair trial in the judiciary.

On the question about former chief minister Pervez Khattak, the KP chief minister said that “he left the party, forgot favors and became a thief and now if he gives false testimony, he will not move about smoking like this.”

Gandapur said they had regarded (chief minister Punjab) as a woman but if a decision was taken to file a case against her, it will be done. He pointed out that cases had been filed against Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari and a case against Nawaz Sharif was filed in the Cantt Police Station in a legal way but there was no system of punishment in the country. Gandapur also demanded death penalty for those who ‘broke’ the Constitution.