CM wants institutions to engage in dialogue

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday asked the institutions to engage in dialogue and reform, adding that the country’s success was intertwined with the betterment of its institutions.

“This nation belongs to all of us, and the time has come that we come together to steer it out of crises,” he said while speaking as chief guest at a function of the bar associations here. Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam, KP Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Members Provincial Assembly and lawyers attended the event.

However, Gandapur said his politeness must not be construed as his weakness. “We are political people and answerable only to voters,” he added.He called upon the legal community to help ensure the provision of justice and uphold the rule of law.

The chief minister said that merit, justice, and the supremacy of law were essential for the progress of any society. He noted that peaceful societies were those where individuals were getting their rights.

Gandapur urged the legal fraternity to align themselves with truth and refrain from defending cases that opposed justice or merit. “We cannot move forward without upholding the rule of law,” he said. He lamented the absence of a fair system of rewards and punishment, which led to repeated violations of the Constitution.

The chief minister said that Islam provided clear guidelines for establishing a just society through adherence to truth and the punishment of wrongdoers.Gandapur said that one’s personal and political interests should not stand in the way of justice and that there should be no room for personal vendettas. “Two laws, two systems, and two versions of Pakistan cannot coexist,” he said, stressing the importance of equality before the law for the country to prosper.

The chief minister maintained that his government never sought revenge against opponents or used his power for seeking retribution. Gandapur said political loyalties should not cloud one’s judgment. “If we can think beyond political affiliations, 99 percent of our problems will be solved,” he believed. He acknowledged criticism about his harsh tone, stating, “I may soften my tone, but my principles and beliefs will not change.”

The chief minister expressed concern over unequal treatment under the law, referencing the Toshakhana case. He criticized the selective accountability process, highlighting that his leader, Imran Khan, was incarcerated while others who committed similar offenses remained in power. “This is unfortunate,” he said, adding that the National Accountability Bureau was misused for political revenge rather than genuine accountability.

Gandapur reiterated his commitment to resolving conflicts through dialogue with neighbouring countries and advocated for the restoration of peace in the region.In a direct message to Imran Khan, he reassured his leader, “We stand firm in the ideology you have given us. No one can divert or deter us from it.”