The Office of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday issued a permanent denial of reports attributed to comments to Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, where the latter allegedly called on Gandapur to resign if he fails to restore peace in Khyber-Pakhwa (KP).
A spokesman for CM confirmed the provincial government’s allegiance to the PTI founder, where he said: “Every time Imran Khan wants, Chief Minister Gandapur will go off”. However, he insisted that there is no authoritative source confirming that Imran issued such a directive on resignation.
The deflection comes a day after the media reports claimed that Imran urged Gandapur to resign over perceived failures in governance and law and order. These reports suggested that the former prime minister believes that another should have a chance to lead the province.
Read: Gandapur hosts First Peace Jirga with tribe Elder
The KP government reiterated that the provincial administration represents Imran Khan’s political vision. “We are led by his confidence,” the spokesman said, noting that Gandapur has publicly described his position in the KP government as “a trust awarded by IMRAN.”
Despite his leadership post, Gandapur has reportedly not been able to meet Imran, who is currently jailed in Adiala prison. The spokesman attributed it to the lack of enforcement of court’s visiting rights.
About Jirgas and Military Operation
When he highlighted government initiatives, the spokesman emphasized the launch of regional tribe Jirgas aimed at fighting terrorism and recovering stability in the province. These Jirgas form part of a wider, socially controlled strategy for improving law and order.
A day earlier, the provincial government had launched a number of regional Jirgas that aimed to restore peace in the tribal districts. During the first Jirga held at Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, participants called on the federal government to facilitate a delegation consisting of representatives from the KP government and the oldest of the tribe to participate in dialogue with Afghanistan.
Chairman of CM Gandapur, Jirga unanimously declared that military operations and the displacement of local populations were in any case unacceptable.
The tribal blades presented several key recommendations during the meeting. They emphasized that peace recovery was important for any meaningful development, noting that stability would accelerate progress throughout the region. They also made it clear that no individual or group had – had not been awarded – control over the province’s mineral resources or other assets, confirming their collective decision to protect local resources.
