ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has confirmed that Ali Amin Gandapur will be replaced as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Sohail Afridi, the provincial minister for higher education, has been named the party’s new candidate for the post.
Speaking to media outside Adiala Jail, Salman Akram Raja stated that the decision came after Gandapur made serious allegations against Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan. He accused her of creating divisions within the party, a move that reportedly triggered the leadership’s final decision to make a change.
Read more: Gandapur likely out as KP CM amid PTI rift
Previously, PTI officials had denied rumours about Gandapur’s removal. Sohail Afridi himself had called the reports “false” and said that Imran Khan had complete trust in Gandapur. He even insisted that Gandapur would continue as chief minister.
However, Raja’s statement now confirms a shift in PTI’s internal dynamics. While the party had earlier labelled the social media reports as fake, today’s admission indicates an official change in the provincial leadership. The move seems aimed at defusing growing tensions and reuniting PTI’s top ranks.
Read more: Gohar denies issuing statement on Gandapur’s removal as KP CM
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar clarified that he never spoke to the media about this leadership change. He denied making any statement that the CM change was fake or a conspiracy. A private TV channel also issued a correction regarding an earlier report quoting him.