Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2024-present)
He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a second time in the 2024 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial election, running on an independent ticket affiliated with the PTI. Following his successful election as a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), he was voted in as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a majority of 90 votes with the runner-up, Ibadullah Khan, receiving 16. [12] Following his oath-taking, he pledged to tackle crime, especially drug trafficking, initiate political reforms, and tackle corruption. [13] Zalmay Azad writing in The Friday Times claimed that Gandapur's tenure as Chief Minister has been marked "unfulfilled promises" and a "significant gap between his rhetoric and reality." [14]
As Chief Minister, Gandapur has expressed his commitment to resuming the province's development initiatives. He has prioritized the restoration and expansion of the Sehat Insaf Card for public welfare and highlighted the importance of law and order, identifying the establishment of lasting peace as a top priority. Gandapur has also indicated his intention to attract foreign investment to the province and has pledged to work with the federal government to safeguard the province's rights. [15]
In a meeting with the KP Auqaf Department, Gandapur directed the initiation of GIS mapping and the creation of an Assets Management Unit for auqaf properties, together with a Quran Mahal in Peshawer to preserve old Qu'ran copies. In another meeting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Governments (Property Lease) Rules, 2024 was announced, extending the lease period of new "large-scale investments" of up to 90-years. [16]
Gandapur also stated that his government would put a special emphasis on governing the newly merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Gandapur and a senior minister in his cabinet, Arshad Ayub Khan met with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in March 2024 and initiated an 'urban revitalization' program which aims to expand and refurbish Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's major cities. Gandapur also stated that his government would prioritize social services and the environment. As part of Gandapur's projects, he also began the Billion Tree Plus project which aims to curb rising deforestation in the province. [17]
The Health Department, under Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Provincial Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah announced a program aiming to expand free healthcare coverage under the Sehat Insaf Card and Ehsaas Programmes to 1 million people. [18] Additionally, a ‘stringent’ crackdown on drugs was ordered by Gandapur, as part of an anti-drug plan, which saw the rehabilitation of 2,000 drug addicts in Peshawar and seizures of illegal drugs. [19]
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced the KP Solar Scheme, a project to deliver free solar panels to 130,000 citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project was inaugurated on August 15, 2024. [20] The initiative was launched due to rising costs for electricity bills and rising electricity demands countrywide, while Gandapur has emphasized solar energy as the solution. [21] A package including solar panels, wiring and panel stands has been announced to be delivered to impoverished families living in hotter areas of the province, applicable through online registration. He announced 30,000 solar panels would be delivered to poor families in tribal districts. [20]
To address unemployment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gandapur initiated 3 new welfare programs under the wing of the Ehsaas Programme. These programs include: the Ehsaas Rozgar Programme, Ehsaas Nojawan Rozgar Programme and Ehsaas Hunar Programmes. The Ehsaas Rozgar Programme and Nojawan Rozgar Programmes aim to give soft loans of Rs10 million or interest-free loans of Rs200,000 for young business owners or youth attempting to start a business. Meanwhile the Ehsaas Hunar Programme aims to give interest-free loans of Rs500,000 for new businesses owners to curb unemployment. Additionally, Gandapur launched the Ehsaas Apna Ghar Programme initiative which allows for civilian loans of up to Rs1.5 million for the construction or expansion of residential homes. [22]
Shakeel Khan, who served as the Communication and Works Minister in the Gandapur ministry, has accused the department’s secretary of disbursing Rs6.87 billion to contractors without his approval. He stated that these funds were released between May and June 2024 under the direction of Gandapur. Khan also alleged that the secretary confessed to taking a 10-20% commission on the disbursed amount, which included payments of Rs200 million to Gandapur and Rs100 million to other influential figures, all on Gandapur’s instructions. Furthermore, Khan claimed that the secretary offered him a bribe of Rs30 million, later increased to Rs50 million along with a new car, in exchange for his silence, but he refused and claimed that he decided to expose the corruption. [23]
Following the allegations of Shakeel Khan, Gandapur was seen "sending a strong message to those criticizing his governance" by relieving Mohammad Atif Khan, Sher Ali Arbab and Junaid Akbar from their parties positions. According to The News International "Atif Khan and another PTI MNA Junaid Akbar Khan had taken a stand for the former provincial minister for communication and works Shakil Ahmad Khan when Chief Minister Gandapur removed him from the provincial cabinet allegedly on corruption charges." [24] According to another press media, The Express Tribune , "[s]ources reported that Atif Khan’s removal followed his public support for the dismissed Minister Shakil Khan, while Sher Ali Arbab’s refusal to sign a declaration of confidence in the Chief Minister led to his ouster." [25] In Business Recorder, "sources said that MNAs Atif Khan, Junaid Akbar Khan, and ex-provincial minister Shakil Khan held detailed meetings with [Arif] Alvi. They complained about the chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, saying he is completely ignoring the leaders and workers who raise voice against the injustices within the party." [26]
Controversies
Accusations of having paraded a girl naked
He was accused of being involved in a case where a girl was allegedly stripped and publicly humiliated in his village in 2017. [27] [28] Gandapur visited the girl and maintained that he had not supported the accused and offered to take financial responsibility of the girl. [29]
Accusations of sexism
At several occasions, Gandapur made provocative and sexist remarks about Maryam Nawaz with aggressive language. In 2020, he remarked, "She is beautiful but she spent millions on her surgeries from the taxpayers’ money". In 2021, He referred to Maryam as a daku rani (queen of thieves) and alleged that she underwent a cosmetic surgery worth Rs80 million. He stated, "I have more to reveal, but I'll only say this to her: if we resort to slapping, she will be slapped so hard that her true face, covered by the Rs80 million surgery funded by taxpayers, will be revealed." [28] [30]
In March 2024, during a session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly, Sobia Shahid, faced sexual harassment and lewd gestures from male PTI members when she displayed wristwatches, symbolizing allegations against PTI leader Imran Khan for purchasing wristwatches from the state treasury at a discounted price and selling them at a higher price to make a profit. Gandapur, recently elected as the leader of the house, addressed the incident by saying "she asked for it," suggesting that Sobia Shahid should have expected such behavior beforehand when she waved the wristwatches. [31] [32]
Alleged ties to the military establishment
Gandapur has been accused of being close or having ties with Pakistan's military establishment, [33] and being engaged in "back-door contacts" with it, [34] previously having claimed in March that "Imran Khan will decide on reconciliation with the establishment" and stated that the establishment and state institutions “are ours”. [35] In April he was nominated to be a part of a PTI group including Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz charged with holding talks with the Establishment and stated PTI were ready for talks. [36] [37] Gandapur has noted that “[w]e won’t keep anything [regarding negotiations with the establishment] secret,” [38] and “Khan sahib has given the task now. He has named the people [for negotiations]. When it happens it will come before everyone. Nothing will happen in secret.” [39] On August 3, Gandapur stated that "No substantial outcome emerged in the interactions [with the establishment]”, [40] He further remarked that "The government urges us to negotiate, but we assert that you are not even the government, so what should we negotiate with you?" [41] On August 27, the CM stated that the Establishment contacted him to cancel a scheduled rally in Islamabad, claiming that after this he consulted Imran Khan, [42] the rally in turn would be rescheduled to 8 September, with the party claiming a government conspiracy. [43] [44] Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also claimed that the government had contacted Gandapur to cancel the rally. [45] Gandapur on May 25 also stated that he had met with COAS Gen Asim Munir at a meeting of the SIFC to convey KPK's concerns; [46] while clarifying that the meetings did involve Imran Khan and were limited to greetings and economic affairs. [47] However, in more recent reports, Gandapur has reportedly proven his critics wrong, and has affirmed an anti-establishment stance alongside Imran Khan, primarily by directly naming the establishment as responsible in public speeches. It is also suggested he was playing a “double game” against the establishment, while his loyalties lied with PTI. [48]
