Ali Amin Gandapur Claims Security Withdrawn, KP Government Denies Reports

Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday stated that he would refuse the reinstatement of his government-provided security, alleging that it had been withdrawn by the provincial administration.

Gandapur, who resigned from the top provincial post in October last year, claimed that the deputy chief security officer (CSO) of KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi contacted his security staff around 11pm and directed them to report back on the CSO’s orders.

According to the former chief minister, he had been assigned a provincial government-issued jammer, a double-cabin vehicle, and a security detail comprising 14 personnel. He said the security officials approached him after receiving the call, and he instructed them to “just close up”.

Emphasising his stance, Gandapur said he would not accept protection even if it were restored. “I want to inform the chief minister that there is no need to return my security. I do not require it,” he stated.

However, a spokesperson for the KP Chief Minister House rejected claims that Gandapur’s security had been withdrawn, asserting that no such decision had been taken. The spokesperson further clarified that no directives had been issued to the relevant authorities regarding the matter.

Gandapur, a senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader, stepped down as KP chief minister on October 8 last year, shortly after party leadership announced Sohail Afridi as their nominee for the position.

Announcing his resignation at the time, Gandapur wrote on X: “In respectful compliance of the orders of my leader, and founding PTI chairman, Imran Khan, it is my honour to tender my resignation from the Office of the Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,”

Previously, Member of the National Assembly Sher Afzal Marwat had claimed that one of the key reasons behind Gandapur’s resignation was his failure to secure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan from jail.

Following his resignation, Sohail Afridi was elected as the province’s new chief executive on October 13 and took oath on October 15.