Ali Amin Gandapur has resigned as chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on the directives of PTI founder Imran Khan. He submitted his resignation to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, with Sohail Afridi nominated as his successor.
In a statement, Gandapur said, “In compliance with the orders of Imran Khan, I am resigning from the position of chief minister.”
He described the role of chief minister as an honour and added that his resignation was in line with the leadership’s decision. “The position of chief minister was an honour for me, and I am resigning as per the decision of the leadership,” he said.
He further stated that when he assumed office, the province was facing severe challenges, including financial instability and the threat of terrorism. “When I took office, the province was struggling with financial crisis and the serious challenge of terrorism,” Gandapur explained.
During his tenure, Gandapur said he managed to guide the province towards financial stability. “In one and a half years, I steered the province towards financial stability,” he noted.
He also highlighted his government’s efforts against terrorism, which he said were carried out with courage and determination. “We took bold actions against terrorism, and I am proud of the efforts we made,” he added.
Under the leadership of Imran Khan, Gandapur said his government launched several major development projects across the province.
He expressed gratitude towards his cabinet members, party lawmakers, and the bureaucracy for their support during his tenure. “I am thankful to my cabinet members, party members, and the bureaucracy,” he said.
Despite the many challenges, Gandapur stressed that his primary focus remained serving the people with sincerity. “I have always made decisions in the interest of Pakistan,” he concluded.
Salman Akram Raja confirms Gandapur removal
The PTI leadership confirmed that Ali Amin Gandapur will be removed from office. A decision, in this regard, has been taken by Imran Khan. Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the decision had been finalised.
“It is true that Ali Amin Gandapur is being removed from the chief ministership. Sohail Afridi has been nominated as the new chief minister of K-P,” Raja told journalists. He said Imran Khan has personally explained "the detailed background of the matter" and instructed him to announce the decision publicly.
"وزیراعلی کی پوزیشن عمران خان صاحب کی امانت تھی اور ان کے حکم کے مطابق ان کی امانت ان کو واپس کر کے اپنا استعفی دے رہا ہوں"
— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 8, 2025
علی امین گنڈا پور pic.twitter.com/sOiBXeqeJg
Addressing the deteriorating security situation in the province, Raja said K-P was experiencing "the worst wave of terrorism" in recent years.
“This year has seen many incidents of terrorism, which claimed precious lives and that is a matter of high concern,” he said, quoting Imran as expressing deep sorrow over the recent Orakzai attack. “Imran Khan said there is no choice left now but to replace the K-P chief minister.”
After confirmation from Raja, Gandapur resigned from his position. However, he later deleted the resignation post from his social media accounts.
He had posted about resigning following the founder’s decision. After consultations with Barrister Saif, Barrister Gohar, and Mushal Yousafzai at K-P House, the post was deleted.
In his post, Gandapur said, “The position of chief minister was a trust from the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. In accordance with his instructions, I am returning that trust to him and submitting my resignation.”Afterward,
Gandapur’s removal unrelated to Aleema Khan controversy
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar has dismissed rumours of internal factionalism within the party and clarified that the removal of Ali Amin Gandapur had nothing to do with Aleema Khan.
In a press conference outside K-P House in Islamabad, Barrister Gohar emphasised that the decision to change the provincial leadership was made by Imran Khan. He stated that any significant changes in government or leadership within the party were carried out in line with Khan’s guidance.
“The decision was made today by the founder of PTI, and any changes within the province or any significant action will occur based on his directives,” said Gohar. “It is the clear instruction of Imran Khan that all decisions be made with the approval of the party chairman.”
Gohar also stated that, according to Article 130(8) of the Constitution, any resignation from the chief minister should be submitted to the governor, and he himself was not authorised to accept or reject any resignation. He further stressed that any change in leadership would be carried out in accordance with constitutional requirements.
“Imran Khan has said that if any change takes place, it should be in accordance with constitutional obligations,” Gohar said. He assured that he was personally overseeing all measures related to the leadership transition and confirmed that all actions would be taken with Khan’s consent.
“Sometimes there are shortcomings in political processes, and criticism arises, but Khan has always stressed that decisions should be made with full consultation and implemented accordingly,” he added.
Gohar continued by stating that all party members were aligned with Khan’s vision, ensuring discipline and adherence to decisions within PTI. “There is no forward block in PTI. Every worker of PTI has come from the ground, and we will continue to support the new leadership,” Gohar said.
He confirmed that Sohail Afridi will receive the party’s full support as the new chief minister of K-P. “Ali Amin Gandapur played a significant role, and his contributions will always be remembered,” said Gohar. “PTI is united under the leadership of its founder, and there is no role for Imran Khan’s sisters in politics.”
Internal rifts within PTI
The development caps months of internal rifts within PTI, particularly between Aleema Khan and Gandapur. Party insiders say the feud had escalated to the point of undermining discipline within the K-P government.
In recent weeks, Aleema accused Gandapur of telling Imran Khan that she was attempting to ‘hijack the PTI’ with establishment support — a claim the chief minister countered by alleging a campaign was under way to declare her the party’s next chairperson.
The dispute, combined with tensions over the June passage of the K-P budget, has highlighted fractures in PTI’s provincial leadership. Gandapur faced criticism from senior figures, including Raja and former finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, for pushing the budget through without meeting Imran Khan for final approval — a move he later defended as necessary to avoid governor’s rule.
For now, PTI sources say the leadership is preparing the formal transition process for the chief minister’s post, which will proceed after consultations with Khan inside Adiala Jail.
Who is Sohail Afridi?
PTI nominee for K-P chief minister, Sohail Afridi, hails from Khyber district and is a first-time member of the provincial assembly from PK-70. Afridi will be the first chief minister from Khyber district, marking a significant political milestone for the region since its merger with K-P.
Afridi was long considered a strong contender for the post. His nomination is seen as part of PTI’s broader efforts to reunify its provincial ranks and strengthen representation from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
Before his nomination, Afridi served as Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Communication and Works, and was later appointed Provincial Minister for Higher Education in the current cabinet reshuffle.
A long-time PTI activist, Afridi previously headed the Insaf Students Federation K-P chapter for several years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and is a businessman by profession.
In the recent general elections, Afridi won from PK-70 by a large margin, defeating PML-N’s Bilawal Afridi, JUI-F’s Hameedullah Jan Afridi, and other candidates.
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