Mubashar Nadeem
The long calm on Pakistan’s political landscape appears to have been only the silence before another storm. Just a week after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur reportedly accused Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, of attempting to ‘hijack’ the party with the help of an intelligence agency, the PTI founder has now directed him to step down. Gandapur’s ouster marks a dramatic turn in the party’s internal politics and exposes widening rifts in its leadership.
Gandapur had expressed his anger and frustration directly to the incarcerated PTI leader during a rare meeting, accusing Aleema Khan of dividing the party and failing to control his critics. His grievances followed the PTI rally held in Peshawar on September 27, where party workers openly jeered him during his speech — a humiliation that seemed to leave a deep mark. His removal now appears to be a consequence of that confrontation and of growing dissatisfaction among party loyalists.
For Imran Khan, it had become increasingly difficult to balance family loyalty and party discipline. Although he initially tried to mediate between Gandapur and his sister, he ultimately sided with blood ties. The move has left observers wondering about Gandapur’s political future and his reaction to what many consider an unceremonious dismissal. Within PTI’s base, pressure had been building on him to adopt a harsher stance against the federal government, especially as Khan’s imprisonment dragged on with no clear end in sight.
The new nominee for the provincial chief executive, Sohail Afridi, is viewed as a more confrontational figure — someone more in tune with PTI’s current aggressive posture. Yet, his effectiveness remains uncertain. Governing a province under federal scrutiny and internal turmoil is not an easy task, and Gandapur’s experience proves how difficult it can be to translate fiery rhetoric into effective administration.
The heart of PTI’s crisis lies in its persistent internal conflicts and a culture of reactionary politics. Despite a major leadership change, chaos continues to overshadow the party’s decision-making. The abrupt nature of Gandapur’s removal, with little explanation provided, has only deepened confusion among supporters. Party General Secretary Salman Akram Raja described the move as part of a “fresh start,” citing Gandapur’s inability to implement Imran Khan’s vision — but few seem convinced this was merely about performance.
Political analysts see Afridi’s appointment as a signal of PTI’s broader realignment. Alongside recent nominations of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas as opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate, the decision underscores a shift toward a more hardline, confrontational stance. It’s a strategy that may energize PTI’s base but risks further alienating potential allies in parliament.
For now, the party stands at another crossroads. As Imran Khan continues to steer PTI from behind bars, the balance between loyalty, ideology, and strategy remains precarious. Gandapur’s fall and Afridi’s rise are not just personnel changes — they symbolize PTI’s deepening internal divisions and its continued struggle to find stability in an increasingly polarized political landscape.
