
By Zain Khan Watozai
A major power shift is unfolding within PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) chapter as Junaid Akbar Khan has officially taken over as the party’s provincial president, replacing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The move signals growing tensions within the party, especially after reports emerged that Imran Khan, from Adiala Jail, had given Gandapur a six-week ultimatum to put his house in order.
Junaid Akbar wasted no time asserting his leadership, calling a meeting with party members who were previously sidelined under Gandapur’s presidency. The meeting was attended by key figures, including Atif Khan—a senior PTI leader who was once the frontrunner for the KPK chief ministership before Gandapur was selected. His presence has fueled speculation that PTI might be considering a leadership change in the province. If negotiations with the government lead to fresh elections, PTI could see Atif Khan as a more favorable candidate for the chief minister’s position.
Adding to the uncertainty, reports suggest that both the PTI Provincial Office and the KPK Chief Minister’s House have been effectively shut down. Junaid Akbar is now expected to decide on a new provincial headquarters, further cementing his control over PTI’s KPK setup. Meanwhile, Gandapur, once a dominant force in the province, appears to be losing ground as internal factions realign.
With the political landscape shifting and speculation growing over Gandapur’s future, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining PTI’s course in KPK—and whether the party will undergo further leadership changes at the provincial level.