Days after appointing a new party president in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan criticized Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur over alleged corruption, according to sources speaking to Geo News.
The sources revealed that Khan reprimanded CM Gandapur during a meeting at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, addressing complaints about corruption and poor governance in KP. He warned Gandapur that such issues should not arise again.
This comes after significant changes within the party leadership in KP, with Junaid Akbar replacing Gandapur as PTI’s provincial president. Akbar, who also chairs the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), had previously backed former KP minister Shakeel Ahmad Khan, who resigned last year over accusations of corruption and poor governance under Gandapur’s leadership.
There are also reports suggesting that a non-political female figure with substantial influence in the party, who had a falling out with Gandapur over PTI’s November 2024 Islamabad protest, played a significant role in Gandapur’s replacement.
Khan also expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of a protest in KP following the arrest of his wife, Bushra Bibi, who was taken into custody on January 17 after the couple’s conviction in the £190 million case, although she was later granted bail.
Khan instructed Gandapur to consult with Atif Khan and other party leaders regarding government matters and to ensure better governance in the province. Furthermore, Khan criticized Gandapur for his photos with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and directed him to focus on governance rather than developing a close relationship with the security czar.
Regarding internal party conflicts in KP, sources revealed that the group opposing former KP CM Mahmood Khan is now also active against Gandapur. This group, which includes Atif Khan, Akbar, Shahram Khan Tarakai, and others, has frequently complained about governance issues and party matters.
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Separately, in a recent meeting with Atif Khan, Akbar, and Shah Farman, Khan tasked the group with investigating alleged corruption in the province in their next meeting.
As for Gandapur’s future as CM, three senior PTI leaders who met with Khan recently indicated that there was no discussion about replacing him. However, Imran Khan did ask Atif Khan to propose a name for the PTI provincial leadership.
Atif confirmed that he had suggested Akbar’s name, which Imran Khan subsequently approved. He also noted that while corruption complaints had raised concerns, there was no talk of replacing Gandapur.
Additionally, a party leader, speaking anonymously, revealed that Bushra Bibi played a key role in the recent changes within the party, advocating for a separation between party and government roles.
