PTI KPK President’s Change: Ali Amin Gandapur’s Position Weakened

In a significant move, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has removed Ali Amin Gandapur from the position of Provincial President of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and replaced him with his political rival, Junaid Akbar Khan. This shift has led to speculation that Ali Amin Gandapur’s influence within the party has been diminished, and his position has weakened.

After a meeting with PTI’s founder and chairman, Imran Khan, in jail, a central PTI leader confirmed that Gandapur was removed as the Provincial President and Junaid Akbar, the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, was appointed in his place. While PTI leaders have explained that Gandapur, also the Chief Minister of KP, had too many responsibilities, and that his workload was affecting party affairs, insiders and analysts disagree.

Some PTI leaders who claim to be neutral or loyal to Imran Khan believe that Gandapur’s removal was due to his poor performance and the dissatisfaction among party workers. A senior PTI leader, speaking anonymously, revealed that the decision was not sudden, but had been under discussion for some time. Imran Khan had reportedly been unaware of the situation as those close to Gandapur were providing overly optimistic reports. The situation worsened when Imran Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, visited Peshawar, and her interaction with the workers led to growing complaints against Gandapur’s policies.

Additionally, during Islamabad’s march, there were further disagreements, which eventually reached Imran Khan. Once the feedback about Gandapur’s leadership reached Imran Khan, it seems that his position became untenable, and he was removed from the position of Provincial President.

Despite this, party leaders believe that Gandapur’s significance within PTI is far from over due to his role as Chief Minister. They argue that his experience and authority in running the provincial government provide him with more resources and power compared to the new Provincial President. However, political analysts suggest that Gandapur’s influence within the party is now considerably reduced, especially after his label as “pro-establishment” emerged.

Journalist and analyst Ali Akbar stated that before becoming Chief Minister, Gandapur had been seen as a “hero” and had the support of workers. However, now his association with the establishment has negatively impacted his standing. The appointment of Junaid Akbar as Provincial President strengthens the faction associated with Aftab Khan, leading to further potential changes within the party where Gandapur’s role may diminish even further.

Reports also suggest that Imran Khan has expressed dissatisfaction with some of the members of Gandapur’s cabinet, and there were speculations about possible reshuffles. However, the KP government has denied such rumors, maintaining that no such changes were imminent. Sources close to PTI also claim that Imran Khan had requested the removal of certain ministers due to their performance but later decided to postpone those changes while advising them to improve their performance.

When questioned about the shift in leadership, PTI spokesperson and Secretary Information, Sheikh Waqas Akram, emphasized that all decisions within the party are based on merit and Imran Khan’s discretion. He stated that Ali Amin Gandapur had led the party effectively during difficult times, but as Chief Minister, he had less time for party affairs, which led to the appointment of Junaid Akbar as Provincial President. He also mentioned that while internal differences exist within the party, when Imran Khan makes a decision, it is unanimously accepted by all members.

It remains to be seen how these changes will affect PTI’s future direction, especially as the party faces ongoing political challenges.