Tensions escalated within Pakistan’s ruling party in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the incumbent chief minister and his predecessor clashed over the alleged withdrawal of official security for the former provincial leader.
Ali Amin Gandapur, the former chief minister, accused the provincial government of withdrawing the official vehicles and security personnel assigned to him after he left office last year.
“Last night, the deputy security officer of incumbent Chief Minister Sohail Afridi instructed the personnel to report to the police lines instead of continuing their duty with me,” Gandapur said.
He said he had been provided with a vehicle jammer, a double-cabin pickup truck, and a team of 14 security personnel by the provincial government during his tenure.
“The personnel informed me and were let go without any explanation,” he said.
However, Gandapur later said he had declined any reinstatement of his security detail, describing it as unnecessary.
“I have informed Afridi that I will not be taking back the personnel, even if they are offered,” he said.
The office of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi denied the allegations, saying no decision had been taken to withdraw Gandapur’s security and that no such instructions had been issued to relevant authorities.
Widening rifts
Afridi was elected chief minister on Oct. 13 last year following a directive from Imran Khan, the jailed former prime minister and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI. Afridi replaced Gandapur in the post.
Since then, tensions between the two leaders have deepened. Gandapur had been largely absent from PTI political activities until last week’s sit-ins organized by the party to demand comprehensive medical treatment for Khan’s deteriorating eye condition.
Lehaz Ali, a senior political journalist, told Nukta that PTI is divided into four provincial factions led by Gandapur, Atif Khan, Murad Saeed, and Taimur Jharga. At the national level, he said, two main camps are aligned with Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, and his sister, Aleema Khan.
“The current tension between Gandapur and Afridi stems from the chief ministership, with Gandapur believing he was ousted due to a powerful lobby led by Aleema Khan and Murad Saeed, which supported Afridi’s appointment,” Ali said.
He said such internal divisions are likely to deepen, potentially undermining efforts to secure Khan’s release.
According to Ali, the conflict could be resolved only by Khan himself, who he said has historically managed competing interests within the party. PTI’s leadership believes a negotiated understanding with Pakistan’s powerful military establishment may be necessary to secure Khan’s freedom.
“All PTI leaders are positioning themselves strategically, in the name of securing Khan’s release,” Ali said.
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