Gandapur shares copy of his resignation on social media

Hours after the news of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur's resignation made headlines in Pakistan, he shared a copy of his resignation on social media. 

The text of his resignation which Gandapur shared on X reads, "In respectful compliance of the orders of my leader, and Founding Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan, it is my honour to tender my resignation from the Office of the Chief Minister, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

"When I took over as Chief Minister, the province was faced with a dual challenge of financial ruin and menace of terrorism. Over the last one and a half year, with the support of my cabinet, our party members and workers, my team of bureaucracy and above all, guidance of Imran Khan, we steered the province to financial stability and countered the menace of militancy with resolute courage and unwavering decision-making. We initiated mega projects of nation-building in a province that was militarily categorised as a warzone.

"I thank all my cabinet colleagues, members of the Assembly - both from PTI as well as opposition - and all officers of KP bureaucracy who helped me face extraordinary challenges of governance in KP. I may not be able to claim with certainty that I did well on all those challenges but one thing that I can say with utmost certainty is that I served with absolute sincerity to the people of KP and always acted in the best interest of Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Paindabad."

Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan confirmed that it was jailed former prime minister Imran Khan’s decision to remove Gandapur.

If there is a change in the government or any important step is taken in any province, he said, it would be as per the instructions of Imran Khan, who is the founder of the PTI. He said Imran Khan had clearly said that all decisions should be taken with the approval of the party chairman.

“We have received Imran Khan’s instructions and all decisions in the party are taken in consultation with him. Imran Khan wants the government to work according to its constitutional mandate,” he said.

According to Article 130(8) of the Constitution, Barrister Gohar said, a chief minister would submit his resignation to the governor therefore he was not authorised to accept or reject Gandapur’s resignation.

He said Imran Khan had directed him to implement any political changes as per the constitution. “I am personally monitoring all the steps and whatever step is taken, it will be implemented only with the permission of Imran Khan. Sometimes there are shortcomings in the political process and you have to face criticism. Imran Khan has said that decisions should always be made through consultations and then implemented fully,” he said.

Barrister Gohar said, “I have spoken to all colleagues and everyone's position is that the decisions on party discipline and leadership should be fully implemented. We have received Imran Khan’s instructions and we will take every step in line with his instructions.”