Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said that he has not officially received the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, contradicting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) claim that the letter was submitted at the Governor House on Wednesday night.
In an interview with Samaa TV, Governor Kundi stated that he had not received any official communication regarding the chief minister’s resignation. He emphasized that none of the authorized officials, including his chief secretary officer (CSO), military secretary (MS), or secretary, had received the document.
“Officially sent items are not left at the gate,” the governor remarked. “My CSO, MS, or secretary can receive such correspondence, but none of them have received Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation.”
He clarified that if and when the resignation is officially received, he will act immediately in accordance with constitutional procedures. “If the resignation comes, I will not take time to accept it,” Kundi assured.
PTI rejects governor’s claim, shares copy of resignation
Reacting strongly, PTI’s Central Secretary for Information Sheikh Waqas Akram termed the governor’s statement “baseless.” He shared a copy of the resignation letter on social media, asserting that it had been delivered to the Governor House late on Wednesday night.
“At 10:45pm, the staff of the Governor House received the resignation of Ali Amin Khan and even provided a written receipt,” Sheikh Waqas claimed.
He added that the submission was made after contacting the Governor’s MS (military secretary) and confirmed that the resignation was officially submitted at 10:45pm. “The staff of the Governor House received and acknowledged the resignation in writing,” he reiterated.
Governor calls PTI’s allegations 'fake news'
In response to the PTI’s claim, Governor Kundi dismissed the reports as “fake news,” saying that no such receipt had been issued by any authorized official. He reiterated that any legitimate communication for the governor is handled strictly through official channels and cannot be left with gate staff or unauthorized persons.
Kundi also noted that the entire PTI was “celebrating day of freedom” today but maintained that he would only act according to the rules and constitutional process once the resignation is formally submitted.
Barrister Gauhar urges immediate acceptance of resignation
Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Barrister Gauhar urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor to immediately accept Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation to ensure a smooth transfer of power.
Speaking to Samaa TV, Gauhar said there is no constitutional timeframe defined for accepting a chief minister’s resignation, and delaying the process serves no legal purpose.
“The governor or federal government should not obstruct the process,” he stated. “In the past, in-house changes of chief ministers have taken place in Sindh and Punjab. This is a democratic process that must be completed.”
He further asserted that PTI’s provincial assembly members are united and dismissed speculation that any of them might be approached or pressured to defect.
Political uncertainty in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
The conflicting claims between the Governor House and PTI leadership have deepened uncertainty over the political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If confirmed, Gandapur’s resignation would trigger a change in provincial leadership, potentially reshaping the political balance in the region.
