Gandapur sends Rs1bn defamation notice to Kundi

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has sent a legal notice to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to tender an apology within seven days for making baseless allegations against him by claiming that he had consented to the launch of the fresh military offensive.

The chief minister filed the damages suit for Rs1 billion against the governor through a lawyer Asad Durrani. Ali Amin Gandapur took the plea in the legal notice that the governor had damaged his reputation by making baseless allegations against him. He said the governor claimed the chief minister had put his signature at the meeting of the Apex Committee authorizing the launch of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.

The chief minister through the legal notice asked the governor to tender an unconditional apology or else pay Rs1 billion in damages to him for tarnishing his reputation. It said Ali Amin Gandapur was serving as chief minister KP and was a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The notice said Ali Amin Gandapur had rendered matchless sacrifices for the party and enjoyed respect among his constituents and supporters. It said Ali Amin Gandapur was made the chief minister in view of his services for the PTI. The notice said the chief minister made all the decisions by taking his cabinet into confidence, however, the governor had made baseless allegations against him. It said the chief minister had not signed any document or endorsed any decision regarding the launch of the fresh military operation in KP. It said the chief minister would consult his cabinet or place the matter before the KP Assembly before making any decision.