By Staff Reporter
PESHAWAR: The political transition in Pakistan’s restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province hung in uncertainty on Saturday, as the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur remained unresolved amid conflicting claims over whether the document had even reached the governor’s office, raising fears of a constitutional standoff and delaying the installation of his successor.
Gandapur, a loyalist of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and a member of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party, departed the provincial capital for his hometown of Dera Ismail Khan on Friday, bidding farewell to his staff despite the limbo surrounding his resignation, which he tendered two days earlier.
The move has thrown the transfer of power into disarray, with officials insisting the letter is “missing” and political allies pressing for swift action to avoid further instability in a province already grappling with surging terrorism. The confusion deepened as local media, quoting sources in the Governor’s House reported that no official resignation had been received, while officials at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat maintained that it was delivered on Wednesday night, the same day Gandapur was asked to step down by Khan.
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, speaking to reporters in Islamabad, dismissed reports of the letter’s arrival as “fake news.” “As far as I know, the resignation has not yet reached the Governor’s Office,” an official on Kundi’s staff told Dawn newspaper, adding that the governor would sign it whenever he received it. Another official noted that Kundi was in Islamabad and not expected to return to Peshawar until Saturday.
Amid the turmoil, Governor Kundi met with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad on Friday, joined by senior party leaders Maulana Lutfur Rehman and Maulana Asjad Mahmood. The discussion focused on the province’s evolving political landscape and alignments. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam have not agreed on a joint candidate for chief minister, while the Awami National Party has declined to back any opposition nominee.
Gandapur, in his first media interaction after resigning on Thursday night, urged quick acceptance of his departure, warning that any delay would harm the province. Upon arriving in Dera Ismail Khan, where supporters greeted his convoy with rose petals at the Yarak Interchange, he addressed a crowd briefly, emphasising his commitment to public service over personal ambition. “My politics was never about power but about serving the people,” Gandapur said, adding that the trust of his constituents remained his “greatest strength despite his resignation.”
A spokesperson for Gandapur confirmed his departure, noting that a large number of employees from the chief minister’s house and secretariat were present to see him off. Gandapur thanked the staff for their cooperation during his tenure. The PTI has nominated Sohail Afridi, a provincial assembly member from the Khyber district, as the next chief minister. But Afridi’s oath-taking remains stalled until the resignation is processed, requiring him to secure majority support in the 145-member assembly. A PTI leader said the party was awaiting the governor’s approval. “The moment Governor Kundi approves the resignation, the process for the election of the new chief minister would be started,” the leader said. He added that decisions on a future provincial cabinet would be made by Afridi after consulting with Khan, the party’s founder.
The impasse has prompted discussions within the ruling party about alternative paths forward. Late Friday night, a high-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s House, attended by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, Afridi, former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, provincial president Junaid Akbar and other senior leaders, weighed options including a no-confidence motion against Gandapur if the resignation issue persists. The leadership is also considering resubmitting the letter to clarify the matter, and that signatures could be collected from assembly members if a motion proceeds.
Constitutional experts have weighed in on the deadlock. Under Article 130(8) of Pakistan’s Constitution, a chief minister may resign by writing to the governor. However, the governor can invoke Article 133 to request that the chief minister continue duties on an interim basis until a successor is appointed. Former governor Barrister Masood Kausar explained that until formal approval is issued, Gandapur technically remains in office. “If the governor says he hasn’t received the resignation while the chief minister insists he has sent it, the matter enters a deadlock,” Kausar said.
The shake-up stems from broader concerns over security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where terrorism incidents have escalated sharply. In a lengthy message posted on X, Khan, who is incarcerated, defended the decision to replace Gandapur as a “constitutional and necessary response to a worsening security situation.” “In the context of the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the change of the chief minister was inevitable and it is a constitutional process that has occurred in other provinces of this country as well,” Khan wrote. “No one should interfere so that the process can be completed as quickly as possible. If anyone attempts to interfere, there will be strong protests.”
He praised Afridi’s selection, citing his “long-standing association with the ideals of ISF and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf since his student days.” “This decision also reinforces the narrative of involving grassroots workers in the decision-making process instead of relying solely on electables,” Khan added.
Former prime minister rejected suggestions that family members influenced the move. “Some quarters are trying to link the change of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister to members of my family, which is completely wrong,” he wrote. “No member of my family has any connection to my political decisions.”
He described Gandapur as “one of my old and loyal colleagues” but noted he had been “embroiled in controversies” tied to a flawed counterterrorism approach. “These disputes arose from a policy of dealing with terrorism that relied on empty firepower without a comprehensive political strategy by Asim Munir,” Khan wrote, referring to Pakistan’s army chief. “The year 2025 is the worst year in Pakistan’s history with respect to terrorism incidents, and the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can no longer bear this situation.”
Khan outlined his long-standing counterterrorism strategy, which he said had curbed violence during his party’s time in power from 2018 to 2022. He recalled holding talks with the Afghan government and resolving issues for tribal people and refugees through dialogue. He criticised current policies as confused, pointing to contradictory claims blaming Afghan refugees or the government in Kabul for the surge in attacks. “Despite expelling millions of Afghan refugees in a disgraceful and humiliating manner, terrorism has continued to rise,” he wrote. “These contradictory statements reveal the public-harmful confusion of Asim Munir’s imposed system.” He reiterated that military force alone leads to failure, as “collateral damage from military operations drives people to take up arms in revenge, and the cycle only becomes worse.”
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