PTI faces turmoil: Rift between Junaid Akbar, CM Gandapur widens

PESHAWAR: A sharp confrontation has emerged between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Junaid Akbar Khan and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

Junaid Akbar Khan had strongly criticised Chief Minister Gandapur, after which the government spokesperson and CM’s adviser on information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, reacted sharply, saying “Junaid Akbar should stop whining and stay at home”.

Junaid Akbar had alleged the provincial government was not cooperating with him. “Chief Minister Ali Amin is taking action against my supporters, and development schemes of MPAs organising rallies for me, have been canceled,” he remarked.

He also alleged Barrister Saif was spreading and representing the narrative of Establishment.

Barrister Saif said Junaid Akbar should resign from the party presidency, and a competent person should be made president of PTI Pakhtunkhwa.

Speaking to this correspondent, Barrister Saif said he met PTI founder Imran Khan only because Imran himself wanted to meet him. “If the PTI founder does not want to meet me, he can clearly refuse,” he said.

Barrister Saif said Junaid Akbar Khan was not fulfilling the responsibilities entrusted to him by the PTI founder, which was why he was under stress.

He said those who work do not make accusations. He said the party was going through a difficult time and, in such circumstances, Junaid Akbar should step aside instead of crying and complaining. He said he did not like to respond to criticism directed at him. “Everything has a limit and these people have crossed all limits,” he said.

He said if Junaid Akbar had an issue with the chief minister, he should sit down and resolve it within the party. There was no justification for criticising him, he added.

Barrister Saif also lashed out at PMLN leader Amir Muqam, saying if he thought his brother would become the chief minister, it was his wishful thinking.

He claimed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was not under any threat, all MPAs were united, and the government would complete its constitutional term.

Commenting on the recent Supreme Court decision, Barrister Saif said the court verdict on reserved seats was unconstitutional and illegal. The government, however, he said, would act on every decision according to the Constitution.

He said Maulana Fazlur Rehman should be happy about the 26th constitutional amendment because it was on the basis of that amendment, the Supreme Court gave its decision.

Talking to journalists in Mardan, Barrister Saif said an inquiry was ongoing into the Swat tragedy, and whoever was found responsible would be punished. Action was also being taken against illegal constructions and unlawful mining, he told media persons.

Regarding the Shandur Festival, he said the government helicopter was used only once when he and the provincial sports minister travelled.

Barrister Saif opined if Junaid Akbar could not fulfil the party’s responsibility, then it should be assigned to a competent person. “And if his job is only to cry and complain, then he should step down from the leadership,” he said.

When contacted, Junaid Akbar said he had not been allowed to meet Imran Khan for the past six months to discuss these issues. He declined to comment on Barrister Saif’s statements.