ISLAMABAD: MNA Sher Afzal Marwat claimed on Wednesday that one of the main reasons for Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation was his inability to secure the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan from jail.
Speaking to host Shahzeb Khanzada in Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath’, Marwat—who was expelled from the PTI months ago—said that Gandapur himself had described a recent meeting with the party founder in jail. According to Marwat, Gandapur plainly told his leader that he did not foresee his release within the next two to three years.
Marwat pointed out that Gandapur had cited the prevailing situation, social media and divisions within the party as reasons for this prediction about Imran’s chances of release.
Marwat also believed that the recent removal of two KP ministers and Gandapur’s ‘clash’ with Aleema Khan could be seen as other contributing factors. He added that Imran Khan was not very satisfied with Gandapur’s performance as chief minister.
Separately, speaking on Geo’s ‘Capital Talk’ show, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik questioned the legality of the decision to replace Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister.
Malik asked whether “a convicted person” (the PTI founder) had the authority to order the change of a provincial chief executive.
“If the new chief minister is not to take directions from the federation, will he take them from Kabul?” he said. This remark referred to PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja’s claim that the KP government had been advised to distance itself from, what he called, “the federal government’s flawed policies.”
