News Desk:
PESHAWAR: In a significant political development, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has officially resigned from his post following direct instructions from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
“The position of chief minister was Imran Khan sahib’s amanat (trust). As per his order, I am returning it and submitting my resignation,” Gandapur announced in a statement posted on his verified Facebook page.
Watch X (Twitter) Video: https://x.com/PTIofficial/status/1975905680721899870
The PTI’s official X (Twitter) account confirmed the resignation soon after, while PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated that MPA Sohail Afridi will take over as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Yes, Khan sahib made this decision himself, and it will be carried out according to party procedure,” Raja told reporters during a press briefing in Rawalpindi.
Raja revealed that Imran Khan decided on the leadership change due to the deteriorating security situation in KP, especially after the recent Orakzai terror attack. “This year has witnessed record levels of terrorism and martyrdoms. Khan sahib was deeply saddened and decided a change was necessary,” he said.
He further noted that Imran Khan had repeatedly criticized the federal government’s policies, urging the provincial government to “disassociate from its flawed direction.”
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan clarified that he had made no statement regarding Gandapur’s resignation, rejecting rumors that labeled the development “fake” or a “conspiracy.”
The leadership reshuffle follows recent tensions within PTI, particularly a public rift between Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, who traded serious allegations against each other. The episode deepened speculation about internal divisions within the party, already strained after the controversial approval of the KP budget earlier this year without Imran Khan’s consultation.
Gandapur’s resignation signals a major power shift in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa politics, as PTI faces both internal rifts and rising militancy in the province.
