PTI leaders clash: Gandapur, Azhar exchange heated words over D-Chowk protest

ISLAMABAD: A heated exchange erupted between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and PTI leader Hammad Azhar during a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political committee meeting held on Monday at an undisclosed location.

Gandapur advocated for postponing the planned protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 15, while Azhar insisted on proceeding with the protest during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit.

Gandapur criticized Azhar, questioning his decision to urge workers to protest while being in hiding himself. He highlighted the risks faced by party workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the absence of Punjab’s party leadership during previous protests.

“You are in hiding but are asking workers to come out. I came to Islamabad twice, but the party leadership from Punjab was absent. My assembly members have been arrested, and the party workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also need to be protected.” CM Gandapur added.

Azhar responded, pledging to lead the protest from Punjab, but Gandapur countered, doubting Azhar’s ability to lead while in hiding. “Don’t throw accusations. I will lead the protest from Punjab.” Azhar responded to CM Gandapur.

The tense exchange was eventually diffused by senior leadership intervention. The PTI political committee ultimately decided to postpone the protest, with the majority opposing it.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan declined to comment on the incident, expressing concern instead about the leak of internal party meeting details.