Ali Amin Gandapur resigns as K-P CM, submits letter to governor

The leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has confirmed that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur will be removed from the office. A decision, in this regard, has been taken by the party founder, Imran Khan. Sohail Afridi has been nominated as Gandapur’s successor.

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 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P),” Raja told journalists.

Raja said, Imran Khan has personally explained ‘the detailed background of the matter’ and instructed him to announce the decision publicly.

Addressing the deteriorating security situation in the PTI-ruled 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 Salman Akram Raja, Ali Amin Gandapur resigned from his position.
In his statement, 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.”

Later, Gandapur resigned from his position and submitted his resignation to Governor K-P Faisal Karim Kundi. In a statement, Gandapur said, “In compliance with the orders of Imran Khan, I am resigning from the position of Chief Minister.”

Gandapur 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.

Internal rifts within PTI

The development caps months of internal rifts within PTI, particularly between Imran Khan’s sister 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.

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 (ISF) 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.