Peshawar:
The formation of a new provincial government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has hit a great slope as the resignation of the stepping chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur has reportedly gone “missed” as it delays the oath of CM-appointed Sohail Afridi.
Confusion surrounds resignation with conflicting claims as to whether it was submitted or received. Sources in the Governor’s House said no official resignation had been received, while political circles insisted that Gandapur had already stepped down.
The uncertainty has thrown the transfer of power into disorder and triggered fear of a potential constitutional crisis in the province.
Officials at Chief Minister’s Secretariat said Gandapur’s resignation had been delivered to the Governor House on Wednesday night, the same day he was asked to leave the position.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who was in Islamabad, and other officials at the Governor’s Secretariat remained close to the question.
An official in Kundi’s staff said they had not yet received resignation. “As far as I know, resignation has not yet reached the Governor’s office,” the official said, adding that the governor would sign it every time he received it.
In a speech with journalists in Islamabad, Kundi described reports on receipt of the severance letter at the Governor House as “fake news.”
While ambiguity surrounds the residence of Gandapur’s letter of severance, PTI has chosen Sohail Afridi, an MPA from Khyber district, as his potential compensation. To assume the CM’s office, however, he will first have to secure the support of the majority in the KP assembly of 145 members.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Imran Khan defended a long message about X.
The imprisoned leader framed the speed as a constitutional and necessary reaction to a deterioration of the security situation in the province, defended the selection of Sohail Afridi as the new leader and explained his long-lasting view of the terrorism strategy.
“In connection with the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the change of the minister of chief was inevitable, and it is a constitutional process that has happened in other provinces in this country as well. No one should interfere so that the process can be completed as soon as possible. If anyone tries to interfere, there will be strong protests,” he wrote.
He explained that Suhail Afridi was chosen “because of his long-standing connection to ISF and Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf since his student’s days”. “This decision also reinforces the narrative of involving grassroots workers in the decision -making process instead of relying solely on elections,” he added.
The former prime minister claimed that “some quarters are trying to connect the change of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister of my family, which is completely wrong”.
He elaborated that the decision was completely political and no member of his family had any influence on it. “No member of my family has any connection to my political decisions.”
“Ali Amin is one of my old and loyal colleagues, but he has been involved in controversy. These disputes arose from a policy of dealing with terrorism that has been dependent on Tom Fire Power without an extensive political strategy from Asim Munir. Year 2025 is the worst year in Pakistan’s history in terms of terrorist fighting, and the province of Khyber Pakhw can not be this situation. And his team will adopt a comprehensive policy in collaboration with public representatives aimed at eliminating terrorism and establishing lasting peace, “the position reads.
He emphasized that for the past two decades he has formulated a clear strategy to counter terrorism and remember that the strategy helped bring terrorism largely under control during PTI’s three and a half years in power. “During this period, PTI even held conversations with Anti-Pakistan, India-friendly Ashraf Ghani government and solved questions about tribal people and Afghan refugees through dialogue and understanding.”
He also mentioned that the then military leadership in 2021 proposed a plan to rehabilitate terrorists who had surrendered, but our elected representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas rejected this plan. It was not implemented during our tenure. “Unlike the facts, PTI is still false that terrorism in the country arose because terrorists were resident in our time. The nation had to be told exactly what terrorists were decided when, where and how,” he added.
“Sometimes it is said that the Afghan government is responsible for terrorism in Pakistan and that terrorists based in Afghanistan perform operations in Pakistan; at other times it is claimed that terrorism is due to Afghan refugees who have lived in Pakistan in the year. to arise.
He emphasized that his attitude to counteract terrorism has always been unequivocal. “History also shows that if one is dependent solely on power rather than on organized political insight and strategy, failure is inevitable. Security damage from military operations causes people to take weapons in revenge and the cycle only gets worse.”
“In the name of political revenge, baseless cases have been filed against me repeatedly. Cases big and small – including toshakhana, al -qadir, cypher, iddat and again Toshakhana – have been filed against me and my wife Bushra Bibi simply making me to bend me and leave my obligation to sand free.”
According to constitutional experts, until resignation is formally accepted, Ali Amin Gandapur remains the legal minister. However, Gandapur, during a recent parliamentary meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf, made it clear that he would not return to office or take on any position again.
Former Governor Barrister Masood Kausar explained that the constitution clearly defines the procedure for the resignation of a chief minister. “If the governor says he has not received the resignation while the minister of chief insists he has sent it, the case goes into a stalemate. Until a formal approval is issued, Gandapur will remain technically in office,” he said.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi urged Jamat Disadvantage Urhore-e-Islam (Jui-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on Friday as part of his ongoing political consultations in the midst of the evolving political situation in the province.
According to party sources, senior Jui-F leaders Maulana Lutfur Rehman and Maulana Asjad Mahmood were also present during the meeting.
The discussion was centered on dramatic changes in the political landscape of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where both sides exchange views on the present development and political adaptations of the province.
Meanwhile, opposition parties are also divided over the transition of power. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Disadvantaged disadvantage-e-Islam (Jui-F) have yet to agree on a joint candidate for Chief Minister’s Castle, while the Awami National Party (ANP) has refused to support any opposition-led nominated.
Meanwhile, the KP government has begun to consider more opportunities to solve the problem of the “lack of” resignation of CM Ali Amin Gandapur, including the possibility of bringing a confidence in him and convening the provincial assembly.
According to sources, a meeting was held in the reigning party late Friday night in Chief Minister’s House to consider the crisis.
The session participated in speaker Babar Saleem Swati, CM-appointed Sohail Afridi, former National Assembly Chairman Asad Qaiser, provincial president Junaid Akbar and several other senior leaders.
Insiders revealed that the provincial government was discussing several strategic opportunities in view of the unresolved status of Gandapur’s resignation. Among the proposals considered is a confidence in non-confidence against the trooping chief minister whose resignation remains unaddened.
Sources said that when a final decision is made regarding the movement, signatures are collected from members to support the decision. Management is also reportedly considering the possibility of submitting Gandapurs resignation to the governor to remove any ambiguity.
