Will respond to every bullet, baton: Gandapur

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has called for a revolution in the country, stating that there was no alternative to it.

Commenting on the clashes between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and the police in Rawalpindi on Saturday, Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said on Sunday that his party would respond to every bullet, tear gas shell and baton strike against its supporters.

In a video statement, the firebrand PTI leader claimed bullets were fired on three of their workers and whereabouts of one of them could not be traced. “More than 50 PTI workers have been injured in shelling as shells and bullets were fired every three kilometres on us,” he said.

He said from now on, the response to bullets will be bullets, shells will be met with shells and sticks will be countered with sticks.

The chief minister claimed that they have been wronged, their privacy violated, but they have not uttered a word of complaint for the sake of the country. He said they were fired upon, shells were launched at them and they faced batons.

Gandapur said scores of police officials were caught by the party activists but he rescued them. “They [police] have set a precedent of firing bullets. We also have guns,” he stated.

Gandapur said that they would reply to every bullet, shell and baton that would be used against their supporters. He further said that some Punjab police personnel fell into their hands, but he had instructed for their release.

Meanwhile, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Sunday announced to take legal action over clashes between Punjab police and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers during its protest in Rawalpindi for which cases have been registered against dozens of party leaders.

“The government had planned a Model Town-like tragedy yesterday. Our workers were subjected to straight firing and our women workers were shelled upon,” said Adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif.

Speaking to Geo News on yesterday’s events, Barrister Saif said the KP government will approach the courts and directions will be issued to the provincial advocate general for taking legal action in this regard.

Which law justifies the use of shelling against peaceful workers, questioned the provincial government official.