ISLAMABAD: In a significant development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced his resignation, affirming his unwavering support for PTI’s nominated candidate, Sohail Afridi.
Gandapur made the announcement via Facebook shortly after reports surfaced about his removal, stating, “I am resigning from the office of Chief Minister on the instructions of our party founder, Imran Khan.” The fiery PTI leader, who previously served as a federal minister during Khan’s tenure, expressed full confidence in Afridi, pledging his complete backing.
He emphasized that all PTI members would unite in their efforts to secure the release of Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since August 2023, and to advance the party’s policies.Prior to Gandapur’s statement, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that the party leadership had decided to remove Gandapur from his position, citing instructions from Imran Khan. Raja announced that Sohail Afridi had been nominated as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and expressed optimism about his leadership guiding the provincial government.
“Imran Khan has directed Gandapur to resign as part of a broader strategy for renewal,” Raja explained. “There are no obstacles in this transition. Gandapur will step down, and the assembly will elect Afridi as the new chief minister.” He also revealed that the party is preparing to introduce new policies and start afresh.
Raja highlighted the ongoing security challenges in the province, condemning what he called “flawed federal policies,” especially regarding the treatment of Afghan nationals. “The manner in which Afghan nationals were expelled was unnecessary,” he remarked. He also criticized former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, noting that despite serving over a year, Bhutto-Zardari never visited Afghanistan.
The PTI leader stressed that terrorism could only be tackled through dialogue, advocating for negotiations to restore peace in the region.
In political developments, Raja touched upon internal rifts within PTI, mentioning ongoing tensions between Gandapur and Aleema Khan, sister of Imran Khan. Both had exchanged accusations publicly, prompting the PTI founder to advise Gandapur and Aleema Khan to avoid making inflammatory remarks.
Gandapur had previously warned Khan about “vloggers” attempting to sow discord within the party and had accused Aleema Khan of backing efforts to elevate herself as party chairperson and potentially prime minister. In a social media message, Gandapur claimed that Aleema was not only resisting party discipline but was actively supporting a campaign to undermine his authority.
He also alleged that columnist Hafeezullah Niazi, a relative of Imran Khan, was writing articles portraying Aleema as the future leader of PTI.
Political analyst Shahzeb Khanzada observed that internal conflicts within PTI, particularly involving Aleema Khan, seemed to have influenced Gandapur’s departure. “It appears that Aleema Khan has gained the upper hand. “There have been longstanding questions about her role within the party, and recent reports suggest Gandapur’s position was under threat for some time.”
