In a significant development aimed at thawing relations, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, urging the prime minister to engage politically with PTI’s founder, Imran Khan.
Following the meeting at the Prime Minister House, Gandapur, accompanied by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, briefed reporters, portraying the interaction with Shehbaz as constructive. He appealed to the prime minister to lift the ban on visiting Imran and other detainees in Adiala Jail, emphasizing the need to discuss the forthcoming Senate elections with PTI’s founder.
Imran, held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on various charges, faced a two-week prohibition on visitation due to security concerns. Gandapur emphasized the necessity of political dialogue between Shehbaz and Imran, envisioning it as a pathway to a political resolution.
Describing it as his inaugural meeting with the prime minister, Gandapur disclosed discussions on law and order and other public issues, with assurances from the federal government regarding cooperation with K-P.
Addressing reporters, Ahsan Iqbal echoed Gandapur’s sentiments, characterizing the talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz and the K-P chief minister as affirmative. Shehbaz pledged to settle K-P’s outstanding dues, with plans for a follow-up meeting post-IMF negotiations.
In response to challenges faced by K-P residents during Sehr and Iftar times, Prime Minister Shehbaz instructed measures to alleviate gas and power outages. Additionally, he proposed the formation of a collaborative team to address the province’s issues.
During the hour-long meeting, Gandapur advocated for a new chief secretary appointment in K-P and the release of allocated funds, advocating for Shahab Ali Shah as the prospective chief secretary.
The rendezvous between Shehbaz and Gandapur signifies a potential reconciliation between Pakistan’s primary political adversaries, PML-N and PTI, marking a pivotal step toward political harmony. They also deliberated on various other matters during the session.
