On Sunday, the office of chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur published a firm refusal of reports assigning remarks to the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, in which the latter would have urged Gandapur to resign if he did not put peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
A spokesperson for the CM has reaffirmed the allegiance of the provincial government to the founder of the PTI, declaring: “whenever Imran Khan wishes, the Gandapur Minister in chief will leave”. However, he insisted that there is no authority confirming that Imran published such a directive concerning the resignation.
Refutation comes one day after media reports said Imran urged Gandapur to resign for failures perceived in governance and law and order. These reports suggest that the former Prime Minister thinks that someone else should have the opportunity to lead the province.
Read: Gandapur welcomes the first peace Jirga with former tribal
The KP government has reiterated that the provincial administration represents the political vision of Imran Khan. “We are guided by his confidence,” said the spokesman, noting that Gandapur has publicly described his position in the KP government as “a confidence in Imran”.
Despite his management position, Gandapur would not have been able to meet Imran, who is currently imprisoned in Adiala prison. The spokesperson attributed this to the lack of application of the visit rights ordered by the court.
On Jirgas and military operation
Stressing government initiatives, the spokesman underlined the launch of regional tribal jirgas aimed at combating terrorism and restoring stability in the province. These jirgas are part of a broader and community strategy to improve law and order.
One day earlier, the provincial government had launched a series of regional jirgas aimed at restoring peace in tribal districts. During the first Jirga, held at the house of the chief minister in Peshawar, the participants urged the federal government to facilitate a delegation including representatives of the KP government and former tribal to engage in a dialogue with Afghanistan.
Predictive by CM Gandapur, the Jirga unanimously declared that military operations and the displacement of local populations were unacceptable in all circumstances.
The former tribal presented several key recommendations at the meeting. They stressed that the restoration of peace was essential for any significant development, noting that stability would accelerate progress in the region. They also clearly indicated that no individual or group had required – nor granted – to control the mineral resources of the province or any other active, reaffirming their collective determination to protect local resources.
