A handwritten resignation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has been received at the Governor House, officials confirmed on Saturday.
The resignation, signed personally by Gandapur, was delivered and officially received around 2:30pm, according to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
Governor House spokesperson also verified the receipt, stating that the resignation would be processed according to constitutional and legal provisions before being formally implemented.
“We will take the matter forward in a transparent and orderly manner, keeping in mind all constitutional and legal requirements,” the spokesperson said.
Governor Kundi: Constitutional process to be followed
Governor Kundi reiterated that the matter would proceed under the constitutional framework and relevant laws. “The resignation is being examined in accordance with the Constitution and applicable legal provisions, and will be implemented once all formalities are completed,” he stated.
Officials clarified that the Governor’s House is currently reviewing the document to ensure all procedural steps have been met before notifying the provincial assembly and relevant authorities. “Whatever the Constitution requires, we will take action accordingly. There is no specific timeframe for this process as my legal team is currently reviewing the matter,” the governor told Samaa TV.
He further clarified that the province currently has a functioning government, with a majority composed of independent members — 91 in total.
“It is the responsibility of the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition to facilitate the formation of the new government. Whoever holds the majority will form the government,” he added.
Security and law-and-order situation
Governor Kundi acknowledged that the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been challenging for a long time. He commended the bravery of the province’s youth and security forces, saying, “Our young people are making tremendous sacrifices. Yesterday, the police in Dera Ismail Khan foiled a terrorist attack and prevented major losses.”
He dismissed speculation about the imposition of Governor’s Rule, asserting that there is no constitutional or political basis for such a move at present. “There is no question of Governor’s Rule. Things are proceeding smoothly, and there is no justification for it,” he said.
Governor House statement
A formal statement from the Governor House confirmed that the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has been received. It stated that under Article 130(8) of the Constitution, the Governor has the authority to examine and consider the resignation.
“Acceptance of the chief minister’s resignation is not an automatic process,” the statement clarified. “The governor has full constitutional authority to review the resignation in light of legal and procedural requirements. In case of any constitutional or legal flaw, the resignation can be returned with objections.”
The statement further noted that the governor’s legal staff will not be available on Sunday due to the weekend holiday, and detailed consultations will take place on Monday. The final decision will be made after reviewing all legal aspects.
“The Governor House fully believes in transparency and adherence to constitutional principles,” said Media Advisor to the Governor, Ali Ayub, adding that all actions are being taken in accordance with the law.
No-confidence motion declared unworkable
Meanwhile, a meeting of constitutional experts and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Secretariat discussed the possibility of a no-confidence motion against the chief minister. Sources confirmed that the motion was declared unworkable following Gandapur’s resignation.
According to KP Advocate General Shah Faisal, Article 130(8) of the Constitution clearly outlines the procedure for a chief minister’s resignation. “The Constitution states that the resignation must be sent to the governor, but it does not require the governor’s formal approval,” he explained.
AG clarifies constitutional position
The AG further elaborated that the approval of resignation is not necessary in the case of unilateral constitutional positions. “Approval is mandatory in bilateral resignations, but not in unilateral ones like that of a chief minister,” he said, citing various court precedents supporting this interpretation.
He added that all constitutional offices, including that of the chief minister, operate under a unilateral resignation principle, meaning the act of submitting the resignation itself is sufficient to trigger the process.
