The Leader of the Opposition in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr Ibadullah Khan, has issued a formal written response to the legal notice sent by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
In his reply, Dr Ibadullah stated that his press conference regarding the financial scandal in Kohistan was held in the public interest and not aimed at personally attacking the chief minister. He emphasized that instead of reacting with legal threats, the CM should take the issue seriously and initiate action against those responsible.
Ibad, through senior legal expert Advocate Sultan Muhammad Khan, addressed the legal notice and included both the chief minister and his counsel, Ali Azim Afridi, as parties in the response.
According to the reply, Ibad received the legal notice on May 24, 2025, which accused him of discussing the Kohistan financial scandal during a press conference.
The reply clarifies that the press conference was held on May 16 with other MPAs, during which Dr Ibad expressed his views in good faith and in the public interest.
As an elected representative and Leader of the Opposition, he stated it is his constitutional duty to highlight public issues and hold the government accountable for its policies and actions. Criticism of government performance, especially when it involves public funds and governance, is a fundamental responsibility of the opposition in any democratic setup, the response added.
Advocate Sultan Muhammad Khan further noted in the written reply that the chief minister should respect constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity for improvement. As a public officeholder entrusted by the people, the chief minister should not respond in a dictatorial manner or view such criticism as a personal attack. In a democracy, criticism is a necessary and healthy part of governance.
The written response also pointed out that the issue raised in the press conference is based on facts, with the matter having been taken up by both the Provincial Assembly's Public Accounts Committee and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). Moreover, the press talk was conducted within the Assembly premises, which provides it with legal immunity.
As the province's chief executive, the chief minister is constitutionally responsible for governance, and rather than leveling allegations against others, he should fulfill his constitutional obligations. The purpose of the press conference, Dr Ibad stated, was to remind the chief minister of his duty as the custodian of the provincial treasury and the head of anti-corruption efforts.
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