Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) has announced an important change of leadership in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur retires as a provincial party president.
Junaid Akbar, a member of the National Assembly, has been appointed as his replacement.
The decision was confirmed by PTI leader Salman Akram Raja during a media briefing in Rawalpindi.
Raja stated that Gandapur’s departure from the role was voluntary, which allowed him to focus on his responsibility as minister of chief minister in the midst of urgent challenges, including questions of law and order in the province.
“This decision matches Gandapur’s request as he wanted to dedicate himself to the control of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Raja said.
The change of leadership was reportedly discussed during a meeting between Junaid Akbar and PTI chairman Imran Khan in prison.
Several senior party figures, including Atif Khan, Malik Ahmad Khan Bachhar and Mian Farhat Abbas, were also present during the meeting.
Raja suggested further organizational changes within PTI, including the potential appointment of former MNA Alia Hamza to a significant role in Punjab.
PTI remains involved in ongoing political discussions, where the party advocates the establishment of a commission before formal conversations with the government.
Raja stated that PTI is open to a meeting on January 28 if the government goes on with the proposal.
Junaid Akbar elected to PAC chairman
PTI’s Junaid Akbar was previously elected without resistance as PAC chairman on Friday.
The position had been unemployed since the government took power after the February 2024 elections. PAC, which oversees the audit of the state’s revenue and expenses, is considered the most influential committee in parliament.
Although the rules do not mandate for the PAC presidency to be taken care of by the opposition, it has traditionally been awarded to opposition members to ensure transparency in financial affairs.
Akbar’s candidacy was supported by several key people, including Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan, Senator Shibli Faraz and others. Prominent committee members, such as MNA Riaz Fatyana, Malik Amir Dogar, Wajih Qamar and Sardar Mohammad Yusuf Zaman, also supported his nomination.
In his election, the Junaid Akbar Khan thanked the committee for their confidence and promised to lead PAC with full cooperation from all members.
