ISLAMABAD; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Wednesday said he was ready to resign from his post, following reports that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership had decided to remove him.
In a statement shortly after the reports surfaced, Gandapur said he had not received any official instructions from the party leadership regarding his removal.
“The chief ministership is a responsibility entrusted by the party founder and leadership. I will step down whenever they ask me to,” he remarked.
According to PTI insiders, the party is considering a major leadership reshuffle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sohail Afridi’s name has emerged as a strong contender for the chief minister’s slot, though the party’s central leadership has yet to confirm or deny these reports.
The development comes amid deepening internal rifts within PTI. Gandapur recently accused Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, of collaborating with state agencies — allegations Aleema vehemently denied, countering with serious accusations of her own.
Imran Khan himself is said to have expressed dissatisfaction with KP’s governance and internal party management, adding fuel to speculation about an impending leadership change.
Political analyst Shahzeb Khanzada commented that the situation appeared to indicate Aleema Khan’s influence had prevailed.
“The differences between Gandapur and Khan aren’t new. Gandapur’s position has been under threat for some time,” he noted.
The rift reportedly widened after Bushra Bibi’s brief release from jail, during which she and Gandapur failed to get along.
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan denied any knowledge of Gandapur’s removal.
“I have no information about Chief Minister Ali Amin’s removal,” he said, adding that media reports attributing statements to him on the issue were “incorrect”.
However, Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Rai Salman confirmed that Gandapur had been removed as KP’s chief minister — though official party confirmation is still awaited.
The latest crisis follows weeks of public disputes between Aleema Khan and Gandapur, which began when Aleema claimed Gandapur told her imprisoned brother that she was trying to hijack the party with the help of the “establishment” and Military Intelligence. Gandapur responded in a video statement, claiming campaigns were underway to declare Aleema the party chairperson.
These exchanges have exposed sharp divisions between PTI’s political leadership and Imran Khan’s family, intensifying speculation about a significant internal power struggle.
Earlier in June, these divisions were evident during the provincial budget’s midnight passage, which took place without Imran’s direct input. Despite Gandapur’s earlier promise to consult the PTI founder, the budget was rushed through the assembly — surprising senior PTI figures like Salman Akram Raja and Taimur Saleem Jhagra.
Gandapur defended the decision, saying any delay could have triggered the imposition of governor’s rule in the province.
