Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has decided to remove party leader Ali Amin Gandapur as the chief minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), reports quoted Bushra Bibi’s lawyer Rai Salman as saying on Wednesday.

 

According to sources, the decision was taken in light of CM Gandapur’s recent tussle with jailed Khan’s sister Aleema Khan over the latter’s alleged interference in the affairs of the party as well as the provincial government.

 

PTI lawmaker in the KP Assembly Sohail Afridi is reportedly the top contender for the slot of the provincial chief executive, sources told The Current.

 

It merits a mention that the development comes a week after Khan told Gandapur and his sister to avoid issuing public statements against each other.

 
The instructions were conveyed by PTI Senator Ali Zafar as Imran also urgently summoned CM Gandapur for a meeting at Adiala Jail.

 
Addressing speculation during a media briefing outside the jail, Zafar had said that the jailed former premier’s urgent summon for Gandapur was for a meeting and not a reprimand.

 

He had also dismissed reports of Gandapur’s sacking.

  
Prior to Khan’s message, CM Gandapur had accused Aleema of creating a divide within the party and alleged that she was being facilitated by the Military Intelligence (MI) and “establishment”.

 
“Imran Khan is my leader and I am loyal to him. It is my right to convey the truth to him … I made him aware of all that has been happening [during my meeting with him yesterday],” he had said in a video statement.

 
The KP CM had also revealed conveying to the party founder that Aleema had a big role in dividing the party and some members being discredited. He had also alleged that no steps were being taken for Khan’s release.

 

“Instead, there is groupism in party which some people are using to serve their own interests.”

 
He had alleged that Aleema was in contact with “vloggers” working to create divide in the party. “And instead of stopping them… she is provoking them. And Hafeezullah Niazi sahib refers to Aleema Khan as the prime minister in his articles. He writes that she should become the party chairperson,” he had alleged.