PESHAWAR: Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur returned to his home in Dera Ismail Khan after the Yarik Toll Plaza was closed over security concerns, abandoning his planned journey to Islamabad with a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy.
Gandapur told workers accompanying his convoy to return to their homes and refused to remove containers blocking the route or take the law into his own hands.
He said Section 144 was in force and that routes could not be opened by force. Gandapur said he was in contact with officials over the closure of the routes.
یارک ٹول پلازہ کی بندش، سابق وزیر اعلی علی امین گنڈاپور اپنے قافلے میں شامل تمام کارکنوں سمیت ڈی آئی خان واپس چلے گئے
راستے میں لگے کنٹینرز کو ہٹا کر قانون ہاتھ میں لینے سے انکار
دفعہ144 لاگو کیا گیا ہے اور پارٹی پالیسی پر عمل کرکے زبردستی راستے نہیں کھول سکتے، راستوں کی بندش کے حوالے سے وزیراعلی متعلقہ افسران سے رابطہ کرتا ہوں، علی امین گنڈاپور
— Kamran Ali (@akamran111) October 4, 2026
The development came as PTI prepared to launch a long march towards Islamabad, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announcing that the march would begin from Lakki Marwat.
The provincial government has faced criticism over the planned march amid security concerns in the province.
The public in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has shown little interest in joining the PTI long march and is instead calling on the provincial government to focus on issues facing the province, including governance, law and order, and security.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said negotiations between the federal government and PTI had been held in good faith, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister had attempted to sabotage the process.
Addressing a news conference in Lahore, Naqvi said the PTI had stepped back from its commitment after a draft agreement was prepared.
He said the federal government wanted the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to demonstrate seriousness in dealing with terrorism.
Naqvi said President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had been kept informed of the situation and that the government’s objective was to ensure unity among all stakeholders in dealing with terrorism.
He said the government would not allow a repeat of the May 9 events and that the law would be enforced to the fullest extent.
Naqvi warned that any loss of life or damage during the long march would be considered contempt of court.
He said that if even a single life was lost, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister would be held responsible.
Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government failed to protect people’s lives and said PTI lacked the will to take action against terrorists.
In a televised message, Tarar said PTI is pursuing a policy that supported terrorism in the province.
He also questioned why the provincial government had not convened meetings of the Provincial Apex Committee.
Tarar said the PTI government had received more than Rs700 billion under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award for counter-terrorism since coming to power in the province.
He said the government would not allow anyone to disturb law and order and would ensure the protection of citizens’ lives and property.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also accused PTI of seeking to create unrest.
He accused PTI of not being serious about terrorism because of its political interests.
