PESHAWAR — Pakistan’s political tensions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa intensified after Governor Faisal Karim Kundi returned two resignation letters submitted by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, citing “disparate signatures” and summoning him to verify the documents on October 15.
The move comes just ahead of a crucial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session to elect the next chief minister.
Discrepant Resignation Letters
Governor Kundi stated that the Governor House received Gandapur’s resignation letters on October 8 and October 11, but both bore signatures that appeared different. He officially returned the documents with this observation and called on Gandapur to appear at the Governor House at 3 pm on October 15 to confirm their authenticity.
Gandapur, however, maintained that both letters carried his authentic signatures and noted that the earlier resignation from October 8, initially rejected, was now being acknowledged by the Governor’s Office.
Political Uncertainty in KP
Gandapur’s resignation saga has added confusion to the political landscape:
- He had first announced his resignation on October 8, with PTI confirming that party founder Imran Khan had nominated Sohail Afridi as his successor.
- A handwritten resignation letter was reportedly submitted later, prompting the Governor’s Office to begin legal scrutiny.
- Meanwhile, a PTI parliamentary delegation met the governor in Islamabad, calling for adherence to constitutional procedures during the transition.
Contest for KP Chief Ministership
The race to elect a new chief minister is underway, with four candidates filing nomination papers:
- Sohail Afridi (PTI)
- Maulana Lutfur Rehman (JUI-F)
- Sardar Shah Jehan Yousaf (PML-N)
- Arbab Zarak Khan (PPP)
A minimum of 73 votes is required in the 145-member assembly to secure the position. PTI’s nominee, Sohail Afridi, has urged that the process remain free from interference, while opposition leaders have questioned the legitimacy of the election process while Gandapur’s status remains unsettled.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.