Gandapur’s brother to contest NA-44 by-poll

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has decided to let his brother Faisal Amin Gandapur contest on the National Assembly seat from Dera Ismail Khan that was won by him in the February 8 general elections, the Geo News reported.

The KP CM, who is also the president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) provincial chapter, said his brother will contest by-elections from the NA-44 constituency which he vacated following his win on the PK-113 Dera Ismail Khan-III seat.

Speaking about handing over the coveted KP constituency ticket to his brother in a video statement on Friday, the chief minister said he has conveyed the decision to party founder Imran Khan as well after he inquired Gandapur where he plans to "adjust" his brother in the provincial cabinet. "He did not know that my brother was yet to contest the elections," he said.

The KP CM said he himself won the February 8 general elections on two seats, one of which he retained and let go of the other. The PTI KP president told Khan that his brother would contest the polls and go to the NA after winning.

Gandapur, who defeated the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, took the oath of the chief minister's office on March 2 after the PTI founder finalised his name for the top provincial post. He was elected as the 18th chief minister of the province after bagging 90 votes in the KP Assembly, while his rival Dr Ibadullah Khan secured 16 votes.

Meanwhile, his brother Faisal will now contest for the lower house of the Parliament in the upcoming by-elections on April 21. He had earlier served as a provincial minister in KP and was also a member of the KP government's Wildlife and Biodiversity Board.