Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced his resignation, saying he is stepping down on the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan.

In a video statement on Wednesday, Gandapur said the post of chief minister was a trust given to him by the PTI founder.

“At his direction, I am returning this trust and resigning from the office of chief minister,” he said.

Gandapur added that Suhail Afridi would have his full support and that the party would move forward under Imran Khan’s leadership.

Sources said that Imran Khan issued instructions to replace Gandapur with Suhail Afridi during the Toshakhana case hearing in Adiala Jail.

Meanwhile, speaking informally to journalists in Peshawar, Suhail Afridi said his name had been circulating for several days, but he had not yet received official instructions from the PTI founder.

PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja later confirmed Gandapur’s removal, saying that Suhail Afridi had been nominated as the new chief minister.

“The KP government could not distance itself from the policies of the agencies. Now, Suhail Afridi will lead a government that focuses on wisdom, understanding — this is a well-thought-out decision by Imran Khan,” Raja said.

He added that Imran Khan had directed Suhail Afridi to engage with the federal government and emphasise the need to follow Khan’s vision.

Raja dismissed allegations that Imran Khan was sympathetic to the Taliban, saying Afridi would make it clear that the KP government does not support federal policies.

“Imran Khan has sent his best wishes for Ali Amin Gandapur,” Raja added. “It’s time for a new beginning and a fresh approach. Gandapur will step down — leadership doesn’t always rest with one person.”

Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan denied any knowledge of Gandapur’s removal, calling reports of his ouster a conspiracy to divide the party.

PTI Punjab leader Faisal Nadeem Gorchani, speaking outside Adiala Jail, said the next chief minister would also belong to the PTI party, confirming that Rai Suleman had briefed leaders about the founder’s decision.

Who is Suhail Afridi?

Suhail Afridi, son of Abdul Sattar Afridi, hails from Bara tehsil in Khyber district.

He was elected as an independent PTI-backed candidate from PK-70 Jamrud in the 2024 general elections.

Afridi previously served as the provincial president of the Insaf Student Federation (ISF).

Not belonging to any political family, he later served as special assistant for Communications and Works (C&W) and was recently assigned the portfolio of Higher Education.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and is a businessman by profession.

In the general elections, he secured a huge victory by defeating PML-N’s Bilawal Afridi, JUI’s Hameedullah Jan Afridi, and several other candidates by a large margin.