ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing increasing internal divisions. The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, has dismissed two provincial assembly members, Atif Khan and Sher Ali Arbab, from their party positions.
Atif Khan, who previously served as the President of the Peshawar region—which includes the districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Mardan, and Swabi—has been replaced by former District Nazim Mohammad Asim Khan. Kamran Khan Bangash, a former provincial minister, continues to hold the position of General Secretary for the Peshawar region.
In a similar move, Arbab has been removed from his role as President of the Peshawar district, with Irfan Saleem appointed as his replacement. Additionally, Advocate Malik Shahab has been named the new General Secretary of the Peshawar district.
These changes were formalized through new notifications issued by PTI General Secretary Ali Asghar Khan, following approval from the Provincial Party President, Ali Amin Gandapur.
Atif Khan had earlier expressed support for the ousted Minister Shakeel Khan, while Arbab refused to sign a confidence statement in favor of the Chief Minister. This dissent led to their removal from party positions.
Additionally, Gandapur dismissed National Assembly member Junaid Akbar from his role as Focal Person for National Assembly members after Akbar made a statement supporting Shakeel.
Previously, former Minister for Communication and Works in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shakeel Khan, resigned, citing corruption within the government. Gandapur later stated that the Good Governance Committee, established with the approval of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, had endorsed Shakeel Khan’s removal due to his performance.
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