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Monday April 29, 2024

After becoming KP CM, Ali Amin Gandapur demands CEC's resignation

Gandapur bagged 90 votes while his opponent only received 16

By Rasool Dawar & Web Desk
March 01, 2024
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur. — YouTube screengrab/Geo News Live
 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur. — YouTube screengrab/Geo News Live

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur on Friday demanded the resignation from Cheif Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, alleging his role in the stealing of his party's mandate in the February 8 general elections after being elected as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's (KP) chief minister. 

Addressing the lawmakers in his victory speech, Gandapur promised to live up to the expectations of the PTI founder.

He then spoke about his party leaders, saying that the injustice done to the PTI leader was never even witnessed under any fascism.

"Our leader fought for the nation for 27 years and he rightly used to say that we are not free but slaves and we require real freedom," he lamented, demanding a free and fair trial for Imran Khan and his release from prison.

He also said that the party doesn't want any revenge, adding that they want a system that no one can abuse in this country.

"The election symbol was taken from us and we are not even allowed to raise our voice for the people of Kashmir," he said, warning that they know how to snatch their rights.

"It is the responsibility of the state to give us our right," he added.

The KP CM then talked about the February 8 elections, saying that the authorities concerned should restore their mandate.

"Today the whole nation got to know who the selected one is. These selected come to rule again and again to steal people's money," he added.

CM Gandapur then said that 80% of the papers of PTI leaders were rejected which were later restored by the courts. He then asked the CEC for his resignation.

He demanded to quash the first information reports (FIR) against the female candidates of PTI, asking Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to form a judicial commission on the May 9 incident.

The CM also promised that he would not do corruption and would not let anyone else do it.

Talking about the economic situation of KP, Gandapur said that he will focus on increasing the revenue of the province. He added that they will not burden the poor anymore.

"We will give property, right to inheritance, free legal assistance to women," he promised, adding that they will invest in trade and business development to create employment.

The CM also said that the people will get a health card from the first day of Ramadan, adding that they will form a commission for overseas Pakistanis.

Gandapur's nomination

Gandapur, who contested the polls as an independent candidate, bagged 90 votes while his opponent, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Dr Ibadullah Khan, could only receive 16 votes.

Gandapur was supported by Sunni Ittehad Council's (SIC) members while Dr Ibadullah had the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Parliamentarians (PTI-P).

PTI founder Imran Khan had nominated Gandapur as his party's candidate for KP's leader of the house. 

Gandapur served as the former federal minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan during the PTI government at the Centre from October 2018 to April 2022.

Previously, he was a member of the KP Assembly from 2013 to 2018 and served as provincial minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for revenue

The CM-designate did his BA honours from the Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan.