Governor Returns Gandapur’s Resignation as New CM Election Begins

Peshawar:  The political drama in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has intensified as outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation has been questioned by the provincial governor due to mismatched signatures on two separate letters.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has returned both resignation letters, citing “disparate signatures,” and summoned Gandapur on October 15 to verify the authenticity of the documents.

This development comes as the KP Assembly is set to elect a new chief minister today (Monday) at 10am.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Governor Kundi confirmed receiving two resignation letters, dated October 8 and October 11, with different signatures. He said the issue must be settled according to the Constitution and asked Gandapur to appear in person.

Gandapur responded, confirming that both resignation letters bore his genuine signature. He also noted that his first resignation, submitted on October 8, was initially denied by the Governor’s office but is now being acknowledged.

Meanwhile, the PTI has nominated Sohail Afridi as its candidate for the new chief minister. Opposition parties have also fielded candidates: Maulana Lutfur Rehman (JUI-F), Sardar Shah Jehan Yousaf (PML-N), and Arbab Zarak Khan (PPP). All nomination papers were accepted after scrutiny.

PTI leaders met with members of opposition parties over the weekend, asking them to support a smooth and democratic election process. The PTI delegation also warned against interference from “invisible forces” and urged opposition leaders to avoid political games or corruption.

However, opposition leaders have raised concerns over the election process, pointing out that Gandapur’s resignation has not been officially accepted yet. “How can a new chief minister be elected when the current one hasn’t legally left office?” asked opposition leader Dr Ibadullah.

JUI-F’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman also criticized the move as premature, saying that PTI should have waited for the governor to officially accept the resignation. He suggested the election could be challenged in court if it’s found to be unconstitutional.

The situation remains tense, with uncertainty over whether the governor will validate Gandapur’s resignation — or if KP will see two claimants to the chief minister’s office at the same time.