Defence Minister Kha­­waja Asif on Monday accused Ali Amin Ganda­pur of “playing a double game”, claiming that his party had also reached a similar conclusion.

Speaking to Geo News, the PML-N stalwart said that groups of PTI supporters who had managed to reach D-Chowk during the protest had lost heart after it emerged that KP CM Gandapur had vanished from the scene.

“Neither their central leadership, nor their Punjab leadership; no secretary, no chairman — it was just a number of workers” who took part in the party’s Islamabad protest, the minister said. He also alleged that most of these people consisted of KP policemen in civilian garb.

Mr Asif claimed that in contrast to the KP CM’s claim, he had actually spent Sunday night at Omar Ayub’s residence in Haripur, which he claimed could be accessed via a road through the Margalla Hills, which leads to Daman-i-Koh.

“Their workers, who were abusing us on social media until yesterday, are now cursing the PTI leadership,” he said, adding that after this disappointment, it would become very difficult for the party to mobilise their support base again.

On Mr Gandapur’s ‘utility’ to party founder Imran Khan, Mr Asif claimed that Mr Khan would never penalise the KP CM as the latter was the messenger between the PTI and the establishment.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024

Opinion

From hard to harder

From hard to harder

Instead of ‘hard state’ turning even harder, citizens deserve a state that goes soft on them in delivering democratic and development aspirations.

Editorial

Canal unrest
Updated 03 Apr, 2025

Canal unrest

With rising water scarcity in Indus system, it is crucial to move towards a consensus-driven policymaking process.
Iran-US tension
03 Apr, 2025

Iran-US tension

THE Trump administration’s threats aimed at Iran do not bode well for global peace, and unless Washington changes...
Flights to history
03 Apr, 2025

Flights to history

MOHENJODARO could have been the forgotten gold we desperately need. Instead, this 5,000-year-old well of antiquity ...
Eid amidst crises
Updated 31 Mar, 2025

Eid amidst crises

Until the Muslim world takes practical steps to end these atrocities, these besieged populations will see no joy.
Women’s rights
Updated 01 Apr, 2025

Women’s rights

Such judgements, and others directly impacting women’s rights should be given more airtime in media.
Not helping
Updated 02 Apr, 2025

Not helping

If it's committed to peace in Balochistan, the state must draw a line between militancy and legitimate protest.