Political Rift Deepens Between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor and CM Ali Amin Gandapur

January 24, 2025 – The political differences between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, and Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur, have intensified significantly. The provincial government recently took a significant step by transferring the Chancellor’s position of universities to the Chief Minister in a move aimed at reducing the Governor’s powers.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa University Transfer Bill 2024 was passed by the provincial assembly and sent to the Governor for approval. However, the Governor returned the bill with objections. Despite this, the assembly secretariat issued a formal notification this week declaring the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa University Reforms Bill 2024 as law, which now grants the Chief Minister the power to serve as the Chancellor of all universities in the province, a position previously held by the Governor.
Under the amended law, the Chief Minister now has the authority to appoint a Vice Chancellor from a list of three candidates recommended by the academic search committee.
**Governor Faisal Karim Kundi Complains to President Zardari**
While Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has not publicly commented on the new legislation, sources from the Governor’s House have revealed that he is extremely displeased and took his concerns to President Asif Ali Zardari. According to sources, Kundi met with Zardari at the President’s House recently, where they discussed party matters, political affairs, and the issue of the Governor’s powers. Kundi also raised the matter of the PTI government’s decision to strip the Governor of his authority over universities.
**Political Rivalry Between Faisal Karim Kundi and Ali Amin Gandapur**
What started as a friendly relationship between Faisal Karim Kundi and Ali Amin Gandapur, who hail from the same district, has now deteriorated into intense political rivalry. Sources close to the situation have stated that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur does not like meeting with the Governor and is working hard to keep Kundi away from governmental affairs.
Government sources indicate that Gandapur is determined to keep the Governor confined to the Governor House and has been successful in limiting his involvement in the province’s day-to-day governance. It has also been reported that the Chief Minister is not allowing the Governor to use the government’s official helicopter, though other officials such as the Chief Secretary, IG, and Ministers are permitted to use it.
**Is the Governor’s Role Now Reduced to Attending Weddings and Ceremonies?**
Before the merger of FATA, the Governor in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held significant power, especially in matters concerning tribal areas. However, post-merger, the Governor’s authority was mostly limited to overseeing state-run universities. Now, even those powers have been taken away by the Chief Minister’s latest move.
According to close circles around the Governor, despite the constant flow of visitors and complaints, the Governor now finds himself powerless in resolving issues related to provincial departments. “The Governor is busy attending weddings, private events, and inaugurations. His role seems to have become ceremonial,” sources shared.
Governor’s close associates have commented that, “While the Governor remains very busy, his ability to address workers’ issues or contribute significantly to governance has been severely limited. His focus now appears to be on attending social events and engaging with citizens on a personal level.”
**Governors Across the Country Express Concerns Over Loss of Powers**
Governors across Pakistan are increasingly concerned about the loss of their political powers. Their position is seen as increasingly ceremonial, and many feel that this lack of authority is hurting their political relevance and the morale of party workers. At a recent conference held in Karachi, the governors expressed their worries and decided to take the matter to President Zardari.
At the conference, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori raised concerns that even in his province, the provincial government was not providing him with the powers required to perform his duties effectively. The conference also discussed organizing meetings in Lahore and Peshawar, where a final draft will be prepared and presented to President Zardari for consideration.