Gandapur chairs MPAs-elect meeting

PESHAWAR: The proposed-chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur has vowed to continue the legal fight as well as peaceful protest against alleged rigging in recent election and decided to stage a massive demonstration in this regard in Peshawar today, Saturday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur called on him and expressed condolences to him for the loss of his father.

Gandapur chaired a first-ever meeting of the newly elected MPAs and former party candidates from Peshawar. He had called the meeting for seeking consultations of the party leaders about various political issues.

The PTI leadership has agreed to stage a protest rally against the alleged rigging in Peshawar in Saturday at 2pm at the Ring Road.

Ali Amin Gandapur had arrived in Peshawar a day earlier and held his first meeting with the PTI leaders from Peshawar at the speaker house.

All the newly-elected MPAs from the provincial capital city were also present in the meeting.

Besides them, the eight PTI candidates who lost the seats in the February 8 general elections were also invited to the party’s meeting with the nominated chief minister.

They included Taimur Jhagra, Kamran Bangash, Mehmood Jan, Ali Zaman, Arbab Jahandad, Mohammad Asim Khan, Hamid ul Haq, and Sajid Nawaz.

Kamran Bangash told The News that they discussed various issues related to the party but nothing about the government, selection of cabinet members or distribution of portfolios came under discussion.

Bangash, a former

minister, claimed all the eight PTI candidates had won election as per form 45 but the DRO and ROs changed their results in form 47 and declared them losers.

He said the chief minister-designate assured to utilise all available options and get back the mandate of the people of Peshawar to them.

There were reports that Ali Amin Gandapur had made some decisions about his 15-member cabinet, five advisors and 10 special assistants and appointing Taimur Jhagra and Kamran Bangash his advisors for health and sports and culture.

Also, Mushtaq Ghani, also in the race for the chief minister slot, was reportedly chosen as higher education minister, Mian Khaliqur Rahman excise and taxation, Arif

Ahmadzai mines and minerals, Shakil Khan revenue, and Akbar Ayub local government. Kamran Bangash didn’t agree with these reports, saying nothing like this was discussed in their meeting with the would-be chief minister.