Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday firmly refused to apologize for his remarks during the September 8 Islamabad rally, declaring, “I owe no apology for any wrongdoing, nor am I a slave to the Punjab government or anyone else.”
Known for his fiery rhetoric, PTI’s prominent leader Gandapur made headlines for his harsh comments, particularly targeting journalists at the party’s major political gathering two weeks prior. He accused a group of journalists of running a campaign against PTI, vowed to “confront” them, and urged party workers to identify and expose them.
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Gandapur’s comments sparked widespread criticism from the media community and the ruling government, with calls for him to issue an apology. In response, the district administration set a condition for allowing PTI’s public gathering in Lahore: the KP chief minister must publicly apologize for his remarks during the Islamabad rally.
“Why should I apologize, and for what reason?” Gandapur retorted during a video address to PTI workers. He insisted that others should apologize to him, particularly for the arrest of PTI’s founder, Imran Khan, and for the injustices faced by party members during peaceful protests.
He added, “I’m neither a slave of the Punjab government nor anyone else,” daring the government to file an FIR or take action against him, but asserting that no apology would be forthcoming. Gandapur praised the people of Lahore for their courage in holding a successful rally despite the challenges.
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The PTI leader also criticized the Punjab government for abruptly ending the party’s Lahore rally before many key speakers, including himself, could take the stage due to a 6 pm deadline set by the city officials. Gandapur announced plans for upcoming rallies, including a gathering in Mianwali and another in Rawalpindi, promising that the party would soon secure the release of Imran Khan and restore him to the position of prime minister through a nationwide movement for constitutional supremacy.