Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has issued a stark warning of an armed march to Islamabad, vowing violent retaliation if PTI supporters face state repression. Addressing a rally in Peshawar’s Mathra area, Gandapur declared, “If they shoot at us, we will respond with bullets—and hit back harder.” The threat underscores PTI’s escalating confrontational strategy amid demands for Imran Khan’s release and dissatisfaction with stalled government negotiations. The party has accused authorities of reneging on promises to investigate the 2023 May 9 riots and 2024 Islamabad protests.
The rally marked a hardening of PTI’s stance, with Gandapur openly abandoning peaceful resistance. “We are no longer peaceful. If batons are used, we’ll strike back; if bullets are fired, we’ll return fire,” he asserted, urging supporters to prepare for nationwide mobilization on June 22. His rhetoric aligns with PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar’s recent announcement of a protest movement led by Imran Khan, now reinstated as party patron-in-chief. However, Gohar has denied any backchannel deals, emphasizing that the party’s demands remain unmet.
The warnings have intensified concerns over political instability, particularly after PTI’s failed talks with the government. Despite initial reports of Khan’s willingness to negotiate, the party later disavowed any secret agreements, insisting on judicial probes into past crackdowns. Gandapur’s call for armed resistance—framed as self-defense—has drawn comparisons to previous violent clashes between PTI workers and law enforcement during marches on Islamabad. Analysts fear a repeat of mass arrests and street battles if tensions boil over.
With PTI rallying its base for tehsil-level protests later this month, the government faces mounting pressure to address the crisis. Gandapur’s pledge that “KP will lead the charge” whenever Khan gives the call signals deepening polarization. As both sides dig in, the risk of large-scale unrest looms, testing Pakistan’s fragile political equilibrium. The coming weeks could prove decisive in determining whether the standoff spirals into violence or forces a negotiated resolution.