PTI KP Faces Leadership Overhaul Amid Internal Strife
PTI replaces Ali Amin Gandapur with Junaid Akbar as party's KP president
Recent developments within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have highlighted significant internal strife.
Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has stepped down as provincial party president. Junaid Akbar, a member of the National Assembly, has been appointed as his replacement.
PTI leader Salman Akram Raja confirmed the decision during a media briefing in Rawalpindi.
“This decision aligns with Gandapur’s request, as he wanted to dedicate himself entirely to the governance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Raja said.
The leadership change was reportedly deliberated during a meeting between Junaid Akbar and PTI Chairman Imran Khan in prison on Jan 25.
The meeting was attended by several senior party members, including Atif Khan, Malik Ahmad Khan Bachhar, and Mian Farhat Abbas.
Raja also hinted at upcoming organisational changes within PTI, suggesting the potential appointment of former MNA Alia Hamza to a prominent role in Punjab.
On the other hand, Punjab’s Senior Minister and PML-N spokesperson, Marriyum Aurangzeb, alleged that Ali Amin Gandapur was removed as PTI’s provincial president due to Bushra Bibi’s complaints, despite his loyalty to Imran Khan.
In a press statement, Marriyum criticized PTI Chairman Imran Khan, accusing him of prioritizing personal interests over loyalty, as reported by Express News.
“Imran Khan has a pattern of using friends, colleagues, and workers to achieve his goals, only to discard them like tissue paper,” she remarked.
She accused Khan of exploiting Gandapur during critical anti-government campaigns but discarding him when his loyalty no longer served his purpose.
“Ali Amin actively contributed to the May 9 and November 26 campaigns, only to be rewarded with his removal from party leadership,” Marriyum added.
She further highlighted examples of individuals allegedly betrayed by Imran Khan’s “opportunistic politics,” such as Jahangir Tareen, Aleem Khan, and Akbar Babar.
“Imran Khan’s betrayal is boundless. He has no loyalty to anyone, not even those who sacrificed greatly for him. Today, no old friend, leader, or supporter remains by his side,” she stated.
Earlier, Chief Minister KP Ali Amin Khan Gandapur enacted a major reshuffle, removing two prominent figures from their positions: Atif Khan, President of PTI Peshawar region, and Sher Ali Arbab, President of District Peshawar. Their ousters are believed to stem from a growing factional conflict within the party, particularly following allegations of corruption and governance issues.
