However, some key members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led governments at the Centre as well as in Punjab immediately turned down the offer, saying that the PTI founder would have to hold dialogue with political forces, if he wished so.
Speaking at a news conference in Lahore alongside senior PTI leaders, Gandapur emphasised that former prime minister Imran Khan would only engage in dialogue with stakeholders who hold actual decision-making authority.
“Imran Khan has made it clear — dialogue will only happen with those who hold the mandate,” he said. “It does not matter if they [the establishment] invite those who formed the governments through Form 47 to sit in the negotiations or not,” he said.
Gandapur said that although the party had remained active over the past two years, it was now embarking upon a structured 90-day nationwide campaign, which would culminate in a major milestone on August 5.
“This protest is not for political mileage — this is a battle for the constitutional rights of the people,” he said. “By August 5, we aim to take this movement to its peak. After that, we will decide whether we continue politics under the current conditions.”
Gandapur condemned what he described as a renewed “fascist crackdown” on the PTI and its supporters. He alleged that party workers were subjected to torture following the events of May 9, 2023, as the authorities continued to suppress their constitutional right to protest.
The chief minister reiterated the party position that there was no legal basis for the cases instituted against party founder Imran Khan. “The courts haven’t proceeded because there’s nothing to proceed with. Our leader is innocent,” Gandapur said.
Criticising the role of state institutions, Gandapur accused them of overreach and undermining democracy. He claimed that the state’s actions against PTI had backfired because of the rising public awareness. “The nation proved on February 8 that it is fully aware of what’s happening,” he added.
In a sharp rebuke to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who said on Saturday that any change in K-P should come from within the party, Gandapur challenged Fazl to contest by-election in his hometown of Dera Ismail Khan against his brother, Faisal, and if he [Fazl] won, he [Gandapur] would quit politics.
Gandapur dismissed claims of any internal divisions within the PTI, calling them an engineered narrative to weaken the party. “We may have disagreements, but our mission is united — Imran Khan’s release and Pakistan’s restoration,” he said.
On the occasion, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja echoed this stance, stating that the party’s unity in Lahore demonstrated unwavering support for Khan. “His release is not just the party’s goal — it’s the nation’s demand. February 8 will not be forgotten,” Raja said.
Concluding the press conference, Gandapur renewed his offer for negotiations, urging “the beneficiaries of the system” to come to the negotiating table. He warned that if dialogue did not take place in good faith, “every actor proven guilty will have to face the consequences — not just PTI.”
Reacting to Gandapur’s news conference, Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions (Safron) Amir Muqam stated that those who always ran away from the negotiating table were now ironically speaking of dialogue.
He dismissed Gandapur’s 90-day ultimatum as mere theatrics. “Gandapur has no real authority. The PTI’s 90-day campaign is merely a tactic to save the provincial government, which is already under threat from internal dissent. Their campaign has failed even before it began,” he said.
“The nation has rejected their politics of sit-ins, long marches, and violence. These are just desperate moves driven by their lust for power,” he said. “If Imran Khan genuinely seeks dialogue, he must first bow before the law, admit his mistakes, and repent from the politics of hatred,” he added.
He said the people of K-P were demanding accountability of the PTI’s 11-year rule in the province. “Gandapur should first answer to the people of the K-P. You have seen development in Lahore – what have you done for your own province?” he asked.
Talking to the media persons in Faisalabad, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry claimed that the establishment did not want to be part of any political process and that if the PTI wished to hold talks, it must return to the negotiations process started by the National Assembly speaker earlier this year.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that political matters were settled through dialogue between political leaders. “It is a settled fact — you have to talk to the political people, and dialogue happens only among politicians,” she said.
The provincial minister criticised the PTI and its founder, Imran Khan, stating, “We have seen many deadlines and calls for protest from Imran Khan. Did any protests actually happen? Did anyone even come out on the streets?”
(WITH INPUT FROM OUT ISLAMABAD CORRESPONDENT)