Gandapur says will try to get PTI’s symbol back after becoming KP CM

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI nominee for the seat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister (CM), on Sunday said that the Supreme Court’s (SC) decision, depriving the party of its election symbol of ‘bat’, came as a shock for the party.

In an informal chat with journalists in Peshawar, he said that the first thing he would try to do after getting elected as the CM would be to get the PTI’s identity back.

He said that the state institutions were not the party’s enemies as the people manning them were from the masses. “On the incidents of violence of May 9, I still cling to the same opinion that it was not done by the PTI workers,” he said, and added, “Only a proper investigation will prove whether it was the PTI which had done this or it was orchestrated by somebody else.”

Gandapur said his government would not take revenge on any of its political opponents. “We will make sure that such a system is developed in which everybody is safe and secure,” he said, and added, “I will take MPAs of all political parties in the provincial assembly along since they have also been elected by the people of their constituencies.”

He further said that he also planned to set up a CM Portal just like the PM Portal.”

He said that the PTI government in the province would make efforts to get the people of the province their rights. “We are not begging. We are just asking for our rights,” he said, adding, “Even if we have to set out on a long march for the purpose, we will not shy away from that.”

Gandapur said how it was possible that the KP did not ask the Center for its share in the country’s resources. “I hope that the issue will be resolved amicably.”

PTI nominee revealed that the party was in talks with two to three parties, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-Parliamentarians (PTI-P).

He said he would take steps to enhance trade with neighbouring countries. “We will wield all those powers which have been granted to us under the 18th Amendment.”

Gandapur said that he would give top priority to the mineral sector. “The importance of tourism sector can’t be negated either,” he opined.

He informed that the formation of the provincial cabinet had begun, and soon a list of the party MPAs who could be included in the cabinet would be sent to the former prime minister and ex-PTI chairman Imran Khan for his approval.