Pakistan's jailed ex-Premier Khan replaces provincial chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Ali Amin Gandapur, who has served chief minister since February last year, says he is stepping down at directive of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan
- Sohail Afridi, young lawmaker from Khyber tribal district, has been nominated as new chief minister
KARACHI, Pakistan
Pakistan's incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday announced that his party is replacing its chief minister in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Salman Akram Raja, the secretary general of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, made the announcement following a meeting with the former prime minister in Adiala jail in the northeastern garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Ali Amin Gandapur, who became chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the PTI's landslide election victory in the province in February last year, confirmed the developments, saying that he will step down.
"The role of the chief minister was Imran Khan sahib’s amaanat (entrustment), and as per his order, I am returning his amaanat and submitting my resignation," he said in a brief statement in a social media post.
The PTI also confirmed the development on its official account on the US social media company: “Ali Amin Gandapur has resigned as per Imran Khan’s directive.”
Sohail Afridi, a young lawmaker from the Khyber tribal district, has been nominated as the new chief minister.
Gandapur said he would "fully" support and work together with the incoming chief minister.
The development came days after Gandapur, in a video message, accused Khan's elder sister Aleema Khan of trying to take over the party "in connivance" with the intelligence agencies.
Khan has been serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted in a corruption case.
While being in jail since August 2023, he has been facing dozens of cases ranging from corruption to terrorism, which he dubs as "sham."
Addressing a media briefing later, Raja stated that the decision was made by Imran, who raised concerns over the spike in terrorism in the PTI-ruled province.
“There is a worse terrorism situation in KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province). There have been record incidents this year (…) the lives lost and martyrdoms so far, there is no example found of this," he said.
“(Imran) Khan sahib is very sad... Khan sahib said there is no choice for him now but to make the change,” Raja added.
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