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PESHAWAR, Oct 08 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced his decision to step down from his position in compliance with the directives of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, the party’s Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed on Wednesday.
In a statement issued on his official Facebook page, Gandapur said that the role of the Chief Minister was Party’s trust, and as per PTI founder’s order, I am returning this trust and submitting my resignation.”
The PTI’s official X account also confirmed the resignation, stating that “Ali Amin Gandapur has resigned as per PTI chief’s directive.”
Speaking to media representatives, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja affirmed the development, saying that the change in leadership had been directly instructed by the PTI chief.
“Yes, this is correct. the PTI founder has made this decision. There is a procedure to it,” Salman Raja told reporters.
In response to media queries, Salam Raja further confirmed that KP MPA Muhammad Sohail Afridi has been nominated to assume the role of Chief Minister KP. “Yes, this is correct,” he said, in reply to questions regarding Sohail Afridi’s nomination.
Salman Raja told journalists at Rawalpindi that the decision was made by the PTI founder after detailed consideration, citing serious concerns about the prevailing law and order situation in the province.
“There is a terrorism situation in KP. Many lives have been lost this year. the PTI chief is very saddened, especially after the recent tragic incident in Orakzai. There is no choice now but to implement a change in KP’s leadership,” Raja added.
This political development follows a series of internal tensions within the party. A recent public exchange of accusations between CM Gandapur and Aleema Khan, sparked significant media attention. Aleema Khan had alleged that CM Gandapur tried to alienate her from party affairs, while Gandapur accused her of encouraging division within PTI ranks.
Further strains surfaced earlier in June during the midnight passage of the KP fiscal budget. Despite Gandapur’s earlier assertion that the budget would only be approved following PTI chief’s input, the budget was passed without such consultation. The move surprised many within the party, including Salman Akram Raja and former KP finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra.
Gandapur defended the action at the time, citing the urgency of avoiding potential imposition of Governor’s Rule in the province.
With the Gandapur resignation now confirmed and Sohail Afridi set to assume the office of CM KP, PTI leadership has signaled a new phase in provincial governance aimed at addressing pressing security and administrative challenges in KP.