A perfect storm of political, administrative, and security crises in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has finally cost Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur his office as the jailed founder of the embattled ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided on Wednesday to replace him with a young tribal lawmaker, Muhammad Sohail Afridi.
Political analysts say Gandapur's ouster was long overdue as he has been at the centre of a political storm stirred by allegations of betraying the party, sowing divisions within its ranks, and even defying Imran Khan's directives.
Earlier, Gandapur said that he resigned from his role as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister while the party's general secretary, Salman Akram Raja, confirmed that party founder Imran Khan directed Sohail Afridi to assume the role of provincial chief executive.
In a post on X, Gandapur said: "In respectful compliance of the orders of my leader... Imran Khan, it is my honour to tender my resignation."
He also attached a copy of his resignation sent to K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
"When I took over as chief minister, the province was faced with a dual challenge of financial ruin and menace of terrorism. Over the last one and a half year, with the support of my cabinet, our party members and workers, my team of bureaucracy and above all, guidance of Imran Khan, we steered the province to financial stability and countered the menace of militancy with resolute courage and unwavering decision-making. We initiated mega projects of nation-building in a province that was militarily categorised as a warzone," the letter said.
Gandapur thanked his cabinet colleagues, assembly members of both the PTI and the opposition and all officers of the KP bureaucracy, who he said helped him face "extraordinary challenges of governance" in the province.
"I may not be able to claim with certainty that I did well on all those challenges but one thing that I can say with utmost certainty is that I served with absolute sincerity to the people of KP and always acted in the best interest of Pakistan."
The announcement followed a swirl of rumours and denials. Reports had begun circulating on social media that Gandapur had been asked to resign, while his spokesperson initially dismissed them as baseless.
However, hours later, PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja, emerging from a meeting with the party founder at Adiala Jail, confirmed what many had already begun to suspect.
"It is correct that Ali Amin Gandapur is being removed from the post of chief minister," Raja told reporters. "Sohail Afridi has been nominated as the new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is the founder's decision, and he has explained the background behind it."
Raja said Imran's move was driven by an "alarming security situation" in the province.
"There is a severe wave of terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Just today, our soldiers and officers were martyred in Orakzai," he noted. "The founder was deeply grieved over the incident and felt there was no option left but to bring change."
According to Raja, the PTI founding chairman, believes the K-P government had failed to steer itself away from what he called the federal government's "flawed policy of conflict".
"The founder believes this policy of war and strife is misguided. We have repeatedly said this war has three stakeholders the people of FATA, the Afghan government, and the Afghan people. Without taking them into confidence, peace cannot be achieved."
He said Imran was particularly disturbed by the recent mass deportation of Afghan refugees.
"The way Afghans were driven out of Pakistan after forty years of hospitality has sown seeds of hatred it is an unforgivable act," Raja quoted him as saying.
The PTI founder felt his "vision for the province" had not been implemented, he added.
"The K-P government could not separate itself from the federal government and agencies' policies. Our people are being martyred, and naturally, there will be a reaction from our forces."
'New beginning'
Moreover, Raja described the founder's decision to replace Gandapur with Sohail Afridi as "well thought out" and a "new beginning".
"He believes that under Afridi's leadership, both federal and provincial levels can adopt a better policy. Sohail Afridi will guide the federal government on how to achieve peace while respecting Pakhtun traditions," he said.
Moreover, Raja dismissed suggestions that Afridi was sympathetic to the Taliban. "This is a baseless claim. Terrorism can only be resolved through dialogue; Afghanistan cannot be wished away it is our neighbour."
He added that there would be no vote of no-confidence in K-P, as the PTI still enjoyed a "clear majority."
"The founder has ordered Gandapur to resign. He believes it is better for Gandapur to focus on public politics now."
"Those carrying out terrorism are the ones crossing 2,500 kilometres, not Afghans living inside Pakistan. The federal government must talk to Kabul. Until the Afghan government is engaged, terrorism will not stop."
He said that the incarcerated party leader "feels proud of the sacrifices of our brave soldiers and citizens" and assured that the transition would be smooth.
"We are beginning a new chapter in KP, free of ambiguity," Raja said. "The founder always says the choice of player depends on the situation, and he has made his decision accordingly."
However, Raja dismissed speculation that the decision stemmed from the recent dispute between Gandapur and Imran Khan's sister, Aleema Khan.
"Imran Khan also expressed good intentions for Ali Amin. He thinks it will also be good for Ali Amin to leave the office and become part of politics, that is politics of the people of K-P," he said.
'Returning the trust'
Later in the evening, Ali Amin Gandapur confirmed his resignation, saying, "The position of chief minister was a trust from Imran Khan. As per his direction, I am returning that trust by resigning from office."
He pledged full backing for his successor, vowing to "support and cooperate fully with the new chief minister".
As news of Sohail Afridi's nomination broke, police security was immediately deployed outside his residence in Hayatabad, with additional personnel stationed as a precaution.
Family members, friends and party supporters flocked to his home to offer congratulations, while PTI leaders hailed his appointment as the beginning of a "new chapter" for the province.
It is pertinent to note that the latest development follows a week after the PTI became embroiled in controversy when Aleema Khan and Gandapur traded serious allegations, with the latter accusing Imran's sister of sowing discord within the party.
The dispute began when Aleema claimed that Gandapur had told her imprisoned brother that she was attempting to hijack the PTI with the help of Military Intelligence (MI) and the "establishment."
Her remarks came just a day after Gandapur held a two-hour meeting with the former premier in jail and left without speaking to the media.
In a subsequent video statement responding to Aleema's accusations, Gandapur alleged that campaigns were being run to declare her as the PTI chairperson. He admitted having informed Imran that such campaigns and agendas were damaging the party.
The exchange of allegations between Aleema, who rose to prominence after her brother's imprisonment in August 2023 and regularly visits him at Adiala Jail, and Gandapur further fueled speculation about deep fissures between the PTI leadership and members of Imran Khan's family.
Earlier, in June, similar cracks appeared when the passage of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's fiscal budget exposed growing internal divisions within the PTI.
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