Gandapur visited polling station to prevent rigging, says Imran Khan

E-Paper | July 28, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehkreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan said on Friday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Revenue Minister Ali Ameen Gandapur is being politically victimised and that he had appeared at a polling station in D.I. Khan to prevent rigging from taking place.

The PTI Chairman was talking to media at a local hotel prior to a seminar on environment.

Gandapur is facing three charges, including snatching ballot boxes from the polling staff in Himad area and threatening them and police deployed there. He surrendered himself to the Saddar Police Station on Monday night after high drama and intervention of the central PTI leadership.

Read: PTI's Gandapur manhandled polling staff, says police report

Earlier, following the registration of case against him, Ali Ameen had claimed he had not broken any law. He said he went to a polling station after learning about rigging in the counting of votes after the polling time ended.

“At the polling station, I saw our man’s rival candidates rig electoral process, I took away ballot boxes to check rigging,” he said.

According to a copy of a report on the incident prepared by District Police Officer (DPO) Sadiq Baloch, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's revenue minister entered a female polling station in Himad area where he had manhandled Station House Officer of the area police station as well as female polling staff deployed at the polling station.

Imran Khan once again held Election Commission responsible for rigging and indiscipline during the recently held local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Imran announces Rs1bn for tree plantation in KP

Addressing the seminar, the PTI chairman said strict action must be taken against timber mafia. He was also critical of metro bus project, saying the government should spend on education, justice and security.

Also read: KP govt was responsible for law, order during LG polls: ECP

The PTI chief said that timber mafia is protected and patronised by politicians and bureaucrats but KP government has decided to take them on and we will not back out.

Imran further announced, through his party’s Twitter account, that Rs2 billion have been allocated for the plantation of 1 billion trees in the province.

Answering the concerns that how these funds will be generated, Imran said that the PTI government has recovered Rs8-10 billions by carrying out operations against timber mafia.

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Important

Jun 05, 2015 04:13pm

I believe in Imran Khan...my leader truth speaker

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Saif

Jun 05, 2015 04:15pm

"Ali Ameen Gandapur is being politically victimised" by PTI CM Pervaiz Khatak??

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nadeem

Jun 05, 2015 04:21pm

If that is the case all ministers should take ballot boxes to there homes to make sure there is rigging..

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Shaukat Ali

Jun 05, 2015 04:28pm

Double standard of integrity and rigging; liars.

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asad

Jun 05, 2015 04:28pm

Welcome to new Pakistan. PTI has managed to accumulate all dirty characteristics of all polirical parties.It has hypocrisy of Jamat islami, denial and intolerance of MQM, insensitivity of PPP and stubborness of PML (N).

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umer Salahuddin

Jun 05, 2015 04:29pm

What a wonderful way to stop rigging. Mr. IK snatching a ballot box is a crime every where in World and you are saying that Mr. Gandapur snatched ballot box to stop rigging. Why are you making public fool.

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Shaukat Ali

Jun 05, 2015 04:33pm

@Saif Yes Sir, you are right. PTI is politically victimized even under own government? A bunch of hooligans who are anti-development and live on false slogans. They deceive our innocent and straightforward youth.

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Sultan

Jun 05, 2015 04:34pm

His rival was rigging so Gandapur took the box and run away..what a joke and innocent statement. I never expected IK would talk like traditional politicians. Welcome IK to real Pakistani politics.

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SENSE

Jun 05, 2015 04:44pm

well said, AA G tried to stop rigging while police was not helping atleast some one has to do it so he did nothing wrong WELL DONE AAG......

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a Ali

Jun 05, 2015 04:48pm

taste of their own medicine... for all opposition and ruling parties. like Saad Rafique, Gandapur also visited his polling stations to stop rigging.

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Usman Khan

Jun 05, 2015 04:49pm

Lol. If that is case, the video of the public blocking his escape from the polling station with the bags is fake??

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Sohail

Jun 05, 2015 05:01pm

Surprised! A minister pulls the ballot box to stop rigging. Won't they mobiliz the responsible authorities. Bad governance.

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Maze Amaze

Jun 05, 2015 05:07pm

Haha! Now that's what we call a joke.

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Maze Amaze

Jun 05, 2015 05:09pm

Haha! Now that's what we call a joke.

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Blister

Jun 05, 2015 05:15pm

I wish IK had refrained from comments and allowed police to complete investigation.

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Jasim

Jun 05, 2015 05:23pm

Didn't PTI call Saad Rafiq out for entering a women's polling station for rigging. He entered the polling station as allowed by ECP. Mr Gandapur entered a polling station where he is not even a candidate. Does that mean anyone can enter a polling station to check rigging. It's about time people realised Imran Khan is nothing but a stubborn arrogant aristocratic leader just like he was as a cricket team captain. I still remember his words while giving a speech on stage at the world cup winning ceremony after the final "I at the twilight of my career have managed to win the world cup". As if the rest of the team was not even there. And he has the same attitude with politics as if anything that he or his party does is correct everything and everyone else is wrong.

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Usman

Jun 05, 2015 05:25pm

Btw Mr. Gandapur was culprit of snatching and taking ballot boxes in his custody no matter what the reason was, and if anybody is wise enough to realize IK never mentioned in his statement that AAG has not broken the law he gave the reason, and now its upto police and judiciary to decide. Please reread the statement carefully: "Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Revenue Minister Ali Ameen Gandapur is being politically victimised and that he had appeared at a polling station in D.I. Khan to prevent rigging from taking place."

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ali ahmed

Jun 05, 2015 05:34pm

I like Imran Khan....he is master of U- TURN...

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Arif Khan

Jun 05, 2015 05:42pm

Still, who allowed him to take over the ballot Boxes? IK should not get carried away, this action must be thoroughly investigated instead of issuing Statements, this certainly brings bad impression of PTI. Truth must come out.

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Muhammad Waseem

Jun 05, 2015 05:51pm

How innocent. Poor honest people.

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Common man

Jun 05, 2015 05:53pm

@Usman Khan Basically all public who vote against PTI is involved in rigging and gundapur went there to stop rigging. All fair and free elections should be held in the Houses of PTI candidates. Election commission should deliver all boxes and ballot papers to them in morning and collect stuffed boxes in the evening, under supervision of depoliticized police. Only then PTI term any election as fair and free

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Asher Abbasi

Jun 05, 2015 05:54pm

I really like IK and his optimistic (though unpragmatic) vision of Naya Pakistan. I don't understand how can someone who claims to put law above everything condone its blatant disregard, least by an incumbent minister belonging to his own party. He had the chance to set an example by expelling Gandapur. His stance on this issue is truly discouraging.

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Arshad - Karachi

Jun 05, 2015 05:55pm

"I saw our man’s rival candidates rig electoral process, I took away ballot boxes to check rigging". what an excuse!!! Bravo IK.

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Nasiroski

Jun 05, 2015 05:57pm

Ha! Ha! Ha! Now what is the difference between him and the rest of political lot?? Instead of waiting for the law to take necessary investigation and conclusion he is publicly defending his guy. Sam old Same old in NAYA Pakistan.

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M.Saeed

Jun 05, 2015 06:00pm

If true what Imran says, it was a wonderful way of stopping the rigging!

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Imran Ali

Jun 05, 2015 06:05pm

This is exactly why I stopped supporting PTI when IK refused take accountability of security failure in KPK that lead to the APC tragedy, not to mention how ended the civil disobedience by paying his bills a day after his marriage. So was Khwaja Saad Rafique then right as well when he was visiting the polling stations? Ali was supporting his brother Umar Amin for local elections, that's crime no.1,no.2 even if there was rigging, he had no right to go there and take law into his own hands, especially when he was intoxicated. Police reports, confirms this and they still didn't arrest him on the spot -took them 2 days because of the media pressure. I feel sorry for my country and disappointed with anyone who supports these incompetent hypocrites.!

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MJK

Jun 05, 2015 06:14pm

Does n't matter how you slice it, KPK government of PTI has created this mess by mismangement. Law & order was the responsibility of provincial government.

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Observer

Jun 05, 2015 06:36pm

Gandapur should not be backed if he really rigged the elections. Let's leave the matter to investigators. PTI's righteous acts supporter.

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Taimur

Jun 05, 2015 06:36pm

It is shameful that leaders defend the culprits.

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Saima Khan

Jun 05, 2015 06:58pm

This is very Disappointing statement by any leader Covering criminal activities Gandapur was involved in rigging

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Asim Munir

Jun 05, 2015 07:03pm

Mr. Imran Khan, can you answer following questions? 1) Was it Gandapur's job to check and stop rigging? 2) Did not Gandapur violate authority of election commission knowingly? 3) The petitioner of the case is the local SHO. If it is political victimization against Gandapur it concludes that the SHO is also politicized. How could you claim that KPK police is not politicized? I'm feeling ashamed of being Insafian once more. Mr. Khan, please read a good book on the leadership of Quaid-e-Azam to know how the great leaders act and behave.

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Abbas Ali

Jun 05, 2015 07:03pm

Mr. Khan, he visited polling station and was not involved in rigging. You expect us to believe that, whereas, Mr. Nawaz sharif didn't visit the polling station but you expect us to believe that he was involved in rigging. Things don't add up. Your team is the part of old set up.

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Faisal

Jun 05, 2015 07:31pm

If any proof was needed that IK is no different from other politicians, this is it!

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Babar

Jun 05, 2015 07:44pm

PTI conducted 2 election. One Intra Party and the other Local Body in KP. Complain of massive rigging in both these elections. What to say now?

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 08:19pm

How he chose to prevent rigging caused serious injury.

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Progressing

Jun 05, 2015 08:22pm

I'm sorry Imran Khan but if you support your ministers actions than what you are saying is that its ok for anyone to take the law into their own hands and play judge??????????? If he was told about the rigging than he should have asked the ECP to handle it,make a video,take a picture or something,its not acceptable for a minister to throw his weight around during elections or any other time.

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AJR

Jun 05, 2015 08:28pm

with this statement IK is influecing the case of gundapur

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Qureshi

Jun 05, 2015 08:31pm

IK proved that he neither can organize his workers within the party nor the government he is holding. What we can expect from him had he given federal government. Complete chaos..chaos and anarchy....

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 08:31pm

@asad ..... Nice summation of Pakistan's political parties. Very astute observation.

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 08:33pm

@Shaukat Ali ...... Harsh criticism.

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 08:36pm

@Sultan ........ IK may have fallen in with the wrong group.

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farrukh

Jun 05, 2015 08:45pm

@Important seriously!!

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Ghaznavi

Jun 05, 2015 08:48pm

Bad move by IK. He should have instead expelled this dude from the party and set an example for others. PTI is transforming to just another party.

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 08:48pm

@Usman Khan ...... Assault and battery is a crime. If a a polling worker was shot by police, Mr. Gandapur should be charged with the responsibility of a second more serious crime - doing serious harm. So long as these people feel protected from the law they will carry on with their violent behaviors.

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 08:56pm

@Blister ...... He can't seem to stop himself. It was bad publicity.

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Ahmed

Jun 05, 2015 09:06pm

Gandapur was charged and arrested by KPK police and Tehreek Insaf has government in KPK. Will someone believe that KPK police is acting against a serving minister without any reason. Its time Imran Khan should give some mature statements.

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Akib

Jun 05, 2015 09:07pm

A revenue minister who has ZERO affiliation with ECP has no business taking ballot boxes . Instead make a video of said rigging, I'm sure a revenue minister can afford a smart phone, clearly not intelligence, but a phone with a camera. Imran Khan can spin it anyway he likes, but PTI isn't a vigilante justice team to which laws don't apply. It's ECP's job, not PTIs to carry out elections. If being impartial and holding free and fair elections is everyone snatching up ballot boxes, ballot stuffing (which still has to be proven) is way old school PMLN.

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CYRUS

Jun 05, 2015 09:10pm

@Nasiroski ...... Imran can become Prime Minister of Ballot Rigging. All politicians in Pakistan have a compulsion to destroy political competitors. It is a fixation with all of them.

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NINO

Jun 05, 2015 09:30pm

@Shaukat Ali Double may be acceptable but the man possesses multi-standards!

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NINO

Jun 05, 2015 09:32pm

@Faisal And indeed you are the one I agree with whole heartedly !

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Sara

Jun 05, 2015 09:34pm

"the government should spend on education, justice and security" Why spend Rs. 2 billion on trees in KPK, and not on education, justice and security?

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Rashid Ishaq

Jun 05, 2015 10:32pm

great efforts for plantation of tree; about rigging thing, I won't buy it sir, who gave authority to minister to go and check rigging or stop rigging; was it his duty?

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Tariq Awan

Jun 05, 2015 10:47pm

Imran is not a court to decide guilty or not guilty!

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Sab Se Pehle Pakistan

Jun 06, 2015 12:08am

That is the limit of double standards by PTI. People are fed up with these U turn strategies. Just wait till the next election you will see what people will do with PTI. There are ligitimate reasons why people are moving away from PTI.

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Laeeq Ahmed

Jun 06, 2015 12:14am

He is not responsible to check ballot boxes, its ECP job.

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Zia ur Rehman

Jun 06, 2015 12:46am

I think IK is telling what his minister has told. He did not say it is not illegal. Minister should have involve relevant authorities instead of taking law into his own hands. This behaviour can not be condoned. All rivals are point scoring. They should show some shame

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Omair

Jun 06, 2015 12:52am

Not a single comment in support of IK here. Glad to see that even the ever optimistic insafians know how absurd this statement is.

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Jun 06, 2015 01:20am

@umer Salahuddin : you are very right. Imran justifies every thing he does, and cricticise what others do. He is a taker, not a giver. Very selfish person. I know him very well.

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syed

Jun 06, 2015 01:46am

See the real face of Imran ;defending his minister what a joke ! for his opponents and a serious thing those who thought that he was a messiah for the nation .

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Saad khan

Jun 06, 2015 01:53am

whoa 2 billion for 1 billion trees. that is2 rupees per tree. is that even possible and where on earth is he going to plant a billion trees

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Khan, USA

Jun 06, 2015 02:25am

Criminals support criminals ! Birds of the same feather flock together. Another change is coming , from bad to worse. Imran has finally proved that he is no better than Nawaz and Zardari .

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Shan

Jun 06, 2015 03:52am

I love the comment "Imran said that the PTI government has recovered Rs8-10 billions by carrying out operations against timber mafia."

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jaffar

Jun 06, 2015 12:50pm

IK you are so innocent and simple at last people around you made bend in your truthfulness, honesty and highness same was with mush in start we claim and did a lot but later bad politican bow him before bad decisions like ik speak today as above , the same bad people you are protecting will say go ik go

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Abdul Samad

Jun 06, 2015 03:15pm

The accident took place at early morning on 4:30 am on 31 May so how the statement of Imran Khan could be justified that Gandapure was there to stop rigging. It was not the time of vote casting but the time of counting , being an MPA, minister of KPK and a worker of PTI, this act of him is not only the violation of rules of election but also a valid proof for being the poling was influenced by him.The case should be properly inquired so that there remain no chance for the opposition to raise questions on the clear past of PTI.

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