Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday said he had informed former Prime Minister Imran Khan that some “vloggers” are trying to sow divisions within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) by projecting Aleema Khan as the next chairperson, and even prime minister.
In a video statement released a day after his meeting with Khan at Adiala Jail, Gandapur said he had told the PTI founder that his sister, Aleema, was actively backing their campaign against the party leadership. Earlier in the day, after meeting her brother, Aleema had told media that Gandapur had conveyed these reservations to Khan.
Gandapur said he had informed the former prime minister that columnist Hafeezullah Niazi—father of Khan’s incarcerated nephew Hassan Niazi—had even penned articles projecting Aleema as the next “party chairperson and prime minister.” He claimed this was all part of a campaign to grant Aleema the leadership of the party, adding this was damaging for the PTI. He said he had further informed Khan that, as per his knowledge, Aleema was being facilitated by the Military Intelligence, pointing to the speedy release of her sons, despite the presence of one of them at the Lahore Corps Commander’s House during the May 9, 2023 riots.
The chief minister claimed the campaign was part of efforts to demoralize the party, as it included propaganda alleging the PTI’s leadership was not serious about securing Khan’s release. These efforts, he claimed, are causing a splintering within the party. “I laid out the facts as they are before the PTI founder,” he said.
According to Gandapur, his meeting with Khan had included discussion on various issues, including the functioning of the KP government. Among the issues discussed, he said, was various reforms and cabinet reshuffles. As a result of these discussions, he said, he had called provincial ministers Aqibullah and Faisal Tarakai—who have since tendered their resignations—and informed them of the decisions made.
Maintaining that both Aqibullah and Tarakai had been part of his team, he said further reforms and changes would be implemented in light of Khan’s instructions. He said the PTI founder had issued several directions regarding matters related to both the party and the provincial government.