The Fallout of a Controversial Call: 

KP Leadership Under Pressure


On the 26th of last month, following Imran Khan’s much-hyped call for action, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur arrived in Islamabad. Alongside him, a contingent of over ten thousand alleged Afghan fighters armed with sophisticated weaponry—including automatic rifles, tear gas, and hand grenades—breached the Red Zone. Their objective seemed clear: to seize the Prime Minister's House, where high-profile events, including a state dinner for the Belarusian president, were underway. Other sensitive locations within the capital also faced significant threats.


Law enforcement agencies, resolute in their duty, drew a firm line against this aggression. As darkness fell, the authorities mounted a decisive counter-operation. Under the cover of a complete blackout, they dispersed the mob and reclaimed control. Despite the chaos, Gandapur and Imran Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, were reportedly granted safe passage. Over four thousand individuals were arrested, and tragic reports indicated the deaths of at least twelve people during the clash. In the aftermath, Gandapur, Bushra Bibi, and Asad Umar reportedly fled to Mansehra.


On December 28, Gandapur resurfaced in Mansehra, speaking to the media with renewed vitriol against the federal government and the military. By the next day, back in Peshawar, he adopted a more confrontational tone, announcing plans for another attack on Islamabad. Strikingly, his rhetoric turned against PTI’s Punjabi leadership, whom he accused of betrayal, using language that shocked even his supporters. Notably, Gandapur distanced himself from Bushra Bibi, allegedly demanding her departure from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.


By December 2, the political landscape seemed to shift further. Gandapur convened a meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, where he expressed frustration over the endless rallies and protests. Acknowledging the province's depleted resources, he instructed Barrister Gohar, the party chairman, to deliver a clear message to Imran Khan in jail: the current course was unsustainable.


Political analysts are now speculating that Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI leaders may have struck covert compromises with the federal authorities. His sudden pivot, contradictory statements, and withdrawal from earlier hardline positions suggest external pressure or pragmatic recalibration. While Gandapur’s public declarations remain fiery, his actions hint at a leadership grappling with fractures within its ranks and dwindling public support.


This unfolding saga underscores the precarious state of PTI's political strategy. With dwindling resources, internal divisions, and mounting pressure from state institutions, the party faces an existential crisis. Whether Ali Amin Gandapur’s retreat signals a broader shift or is merely a tactical pause remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: the political landscape in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and indeed Pakistan, is undergoing seismic changes.