PESHAWAR 27 August 2024 (TDI): Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party is grappling with deepening internal divisions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur takes decisive action against dissenting members. The latest move in this political drama includes the removal of two prominent MNAs, Atif Khan and Sher Ali Arbab, from their key party positions.
The turbulence within PTI escalated when Ali Amin Gandapur dismissed Junaid Akbar from his role as Focal Person to the Chief Minister for the party’s MNAs from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Akbar’s removal came in the wake of his support for Shakeel Khan, who had been dismissed as Minister for Communication and Works earlier due to allegations of corruption.
In a series of high-profile changes, Atif Khan, previously serving as the President of the Peshawar region—which includes the districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, and Swabi—has been replaced by former District Nazim Mohammad Asim Khan. Despite the shake-up, Kamran Khan Bangash will continue in his role as the General Secretary of the Peshawar region.
Similarly, Sher Ali Arbab has been ousted from his position as President of the Peshawar district. His successor, Irfan Saleem, has been appointed to lead the district, while Advocate Malik Shahab assumes the role of General Secretary of the Peshawar district.
The changes were formalized through new notifications issued by PTI General Secretary Ali Asghar Khan, following approval from Provincial Party President Ali Amin Gandapur. Atif Khan’s removal was partly due to his support for the recently ousted Minister Shakeel Khan, while Sher Ali Arbab’s dismissal followed his refusal to sign a statement of confidence in the Chief Minister.
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Shakeel Khan, the former Minister for Communication and Works, had resigned citing corruption issues within the government. Gandapur, supported by the Good Governance Committee established with the backing of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, affirmed that Shakeel Khan’s removal was based on his unsatisfactory performance.
As PTI navigates this period of internal conflict, the party’s leadership is striving to stabilize its ranks and reinforce its political strategy ahead of forthcoming challenges.
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