Ali Amin Gandapur | |
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علی امین گنڈا پور | |
![]() Gandapur in 2024 | |
18thChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
Assumed office 2 March 2024 | |
Governor | Haji Ghulam Ali Faisal Karim Kundi |
Preceded by | Arshad Hussain Shah (caretaker) |
Federal Minister of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan | |
In office 5 October 2018 – 10 April 2022 | |
President | Arif Alvi |
Prime Minister | Imran Khan |
Preceded by | Roshan Khursheed Bharucha (caretaker) |
Succeeded by | Qamar Zaman Kaira (as Advisor) |
Member of theNational Assembly of Pakistan | |
In office 13 August 2018 – 17 January 2023 | |
Constituency | NA-38 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) |
Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Revenue and Estate | |
In office 17 June 2013 – 28 May 2018 | |
Governor | Shaukatullah Khan Mehtab Abbasi Iqbal Zafar Jhagra |
Chief Minister | Pervez Khattak |
Preceded by | Sameen Jan Babar (caretaker) |
Succeeded by | Muqadas Shah (caretaker) |
Member of theProvincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
Assumed office 28 February 2024 | |
Constituency | PK-113 Dera Ismail Khan-III |
In office 31 May 2013 – 28 May 2018 | |
Constituency | PK-64 Dera Ismail Khan-I |
President ofPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
In office 3 June 2023 – 25 January 2025 | |
Chairman | Imran Khan Gohar Ali Khan |
Preceded by | Pervez Khattak |
Succeeded by | Junaid Akbar |
Personal details | |
Political party | PTI (2008-present) |
Relations | Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur (brother) |
Education | Saint Helen’s Public SchoolDI Khan Police Public SchoolPeshawar Government College University, Lahore(FSc) National College of Arts Gomal University (BA)[1] |
Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur[a] is aPakistani politician who is currently serving as the 18thChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in office since 2 March 2024. He served as theFederal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan from 5 October 2018 to 10 April 2022. He had been a member of theNational Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till January 2023.[2][3]
Previously, he was a member of theProvincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2013 to 2018 and served as Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Revenue for the same period of time. He contested his first election in 2013, winning in PK-94Dera Ismail Khan, he would win again later on in 2018. He contested 2 seats, PK-97 Dera Ismail Khan City 1, and NA-38, winning both seats. In 2024, he was elected again to a seat in the Provincial Assembly, winning in PK-113 Dera Ismail Khan.
Born in 1978 as Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, he belongs to a politically activeGandapur tribe ofPashtuns fromKulachi,Dera Ismail Khan. His father Aminullah Gandapur served as a caretaker cabinet member underPervez Musharraf.[4][5] Gandapur received his early education from Saint Helen’s Public School in his hometown, while he matriculated from Police Public School inPeshawar. He did his intermediate studies fromGovernment College University, Lahore and graduated from theNational College of Arts, Lahore, majoring in fashion design. He then attendedGomal University for hisBachelor’s (Hons) degree.[6][7][8]
He became a member of thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in 2007, and was elected as the party’s SouthKhyber Pakhtunkhwa region President in the 2013 intra-party elections.[6]
He was elected to theProvincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a candidate ofPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from the PK-64 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) in2013 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial election. He received 14,047 votes and defeated an independent candidate, Qayyum Nawaz.[9]
Following his successful election, he was inducted into the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet of Chief MinisterPervez Khattak[10] and was made Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Revenue and Estate.[11]
He was elected to theNational Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PTI from ConstituencyNA-38 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) in2018 Pakistani general election.[12]
On 5 October 2018, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime MinisterImran Khan[13] and was appointedFederal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan,[14] a position which he served until 10 April 2022.[7]
He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a second time in the2024 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial election, running on an independent ticket affiliated with thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Following his successful election as a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), he was voted in asChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a majority of 90 votes with the runner-up,Ibadullah Khan, receiving 16.[15]
As Chief Minister, Gandapur has expressed his commitment to resuming the province's development initiatives. He has prioritized the restoration and expansion of theSehat Insaf Card for public welfare and highlighted the importance of law and order, identifying the establishment of lasting peace as a top priority. Gandapur has also pledged to work with the federal government to safeguard the province's rights.[16]
Within the first 10 days in office, on 12 March 2024, Ali Amin Gandapur and his government restored medical facilities under theSehat Insaf Card after it had been suspended for almost a year by the previouscaretaker government due to a lack of funds.[17] In September 2024, free healthcare coverage under the Sehat Insaf Card was restored again after the State Life Insurance Company temporarily discontinued it due to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government's failure to clear dues. The facility was resumed following the government's assurance to pay Rs6 billion to the company.[18]
The government announced a social protectionlife insurance facility to be added into the Sehat Insaf Card’s Plus Program.[19] The life insurance scheme is thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s second major social security initiative after theSehat Insaf Card, offering compensation of Rs500,000 to Rs1,000,000 to the heirs of deceased family heads.[20] Additionally, a ‘stringent’ crackdown on drugs was ordered by Gandapur, as part of an anti-drug plan under which 2,397 drug addicts were rehabilitated with 2,000 more planned inPeshawar and seizures of illegal drugs.[21][22]
On 17 October 2024, Gandapur and his Finance advisor,Muzzammil Aslam, approved several key development projects forKhyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). These flagship projects include the establishment of the province’s own IslamicTakaful insurance company, a solarisation program, and a home-stay tourism scheme. Other approved projects include the construction of thePeshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway, a 120-kilometre-long transmission line, the creation of a trade corridor hub, and a debt management fund. Additionally, the government plans to construct a 365-kilometre-long motorway to improve trade links between KPK,Punjab, andBalochistan and will build a transmission line to supply affordable electricity to local industries. The government also plans to establish a trade corridor hub atTorkham and a debt management fund to strengthen financial stability. The provincial government aims to complete these initiatives by the end of 2027.[20]
In a meeting with the KPAuqaf Department, Gandapur directed the initiation ofGIS mapping and the creation of an Assets Management Unit for auqaf properties, together with a Quran Mahal inPeshawar to preserve old Qu'ran copies. In another meeting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Governments (Property Lease) Rules, 2024 was announced, extending the lease period of new "large-scale investments" of up to 90-years.[23] Gandapur also stated that his government would put a special emphasis on governing thenewly merged tribal districts ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa.[24]
As part of Gandapur's projects, he also began theBillion Tree Plus project which aims to curb rising deforestation in the province.[25] The project plans to increase forest cover by 12%.[26]Conservationists criticised Gandapur's government for approving the clearance of over six million cubic feet of timber, the government's handling of theecological crisis as well as alleged complicity in ecolgical vandalism through itsdeforestation plan, which drew harsh criticism from the Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN) for alarming rates of deforestation.[27]
Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced theKP Solar Scheme, a project to deliver freesolar panels to 130,000 citizens inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project was inaugurated on 15 August 2024.[28] The initiative was launched due to rising costs for electricity bills countrywide.[29] A package including solar panels, wiring and panel stands has been announced to be delivered to impoverished families living in hotter areas of the province, applicable through online registration.[28]
To addressunemployment inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gandapur initiated three new welfare programs under the wing of theEhsaas Programme. These programs include: the Ehsaas Rozgar Programme, Ehsaas Nojawan Rozgar Programme and Ehsaas Hunar Programmes. The Ehsaas Rozgar Programme and Nojawan Rozgar Programmes aim to give soft loans of Rs10 million or interest-free loans of Rs200,000 for young business owners or youth attempting to start a business. Meanwhile, the Ehsaas Hunar Programme aims to give interest-free loans of Rs500,000 for new businesses owners to curb unemployment. Additionally, Gandapur launched the Ehsaas Apna Ghar Programme initiative which allows for loans of up to Rs1.5 million for the construction or expansion of residential homes.[30][31][32]
Shakeel Khan, who served as the Communication and Works Minister in theGandapur ministry, accused the department's secretary of disbursing Rs6.87 billion to contractors without his approval. He stated that these funds were released between May and June 2024 under the direction of Gandapur. Khan also alleged that the secretary confessed to taking a 10-20% commission on the disbursed amount, which included payments of Rs200 million to Gandapur and Rs100 million to other influential figures, all on Gandapur's instructions. Furthermore, Khan claimed that the secretary offered him a bribe of Rs30 million, later increased to Rs50 million along with a new car, in exchange for his silence, but he refused and claimed that he decided to expose the corruption.[33]
In response to the allegations, thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed a three-member committee to watch over Gandapur’s government.[34]Imran Khan, PTI founder gave Gandapur a 45-day deadline to end corruption in January 2025 after a report uncovered financial corruption by officials in departments.[35] Khan warned cabinet ministers of being held answerable and accountable for corruption after meeting with Shakeel Khan.[36]
Following the allegations of Shakeel Khan, Gandapur was seen "sending a strong message to those criticizing his governance" by relievingMohammad Atif Khan,Sher Ali Arbab andJunaid Akbar from their parties positions. According toThe News International "Atif Khan and another PTI MNA Junaid Akbar Khan had taken a stand for the former provincial minister for communication and works Shakeel Ahmad Khan when Chief Minister Gandapur removed him from the provincial cabinet allegedly on corruption charges."[37] According to another press media,The Express Tribune, "sources reported that Atif Khan's removal followed his public support for the dismissed Minister Shakeel Khan, while Sher Ali Arbab's refusal to sign a declaration of confidence in the Chief Minister led to his ouster."[38] InBusiness Recorder, "sources said that MNAs Atif Khan, Junaid Akbar Khan, and ex-provincial minister Shakeel Khan held detailed meetings withArif Alvi. They complained about the chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, saying he is completely ignoring the leaders and workers who raise voice against the injustices within the party."[39]
TheFederal government and its allies critcised Gandapur for "unilaterally" holding peace talks with theGovernment of Afghanistan.[40]Aasim Sajjad Akhtar inDawn criticised Gandapur's government for its law-and-order situation, saying the "chief minister of KP nor the prime and interior minister at the centre provide the general public with any meaningful information let alone chart out a strategy to deal with what, by any account, is a situation spiralling completely out of control."[41]
He was accused of being involved in a case where a girl was allegedly stripped and publicly humiliated in his village in 2017.[42][43] Gandapur visited the girl and maintained that he had not supported the accused and offered to take financial responsibility of the girl.[44]
At several occasions, Gandapur made provocative andsexist remarks aboutMaryam Nawaz with aggressive language. In 2020, he remarked, "She is beautiful but she spent millions on her surgeries from the taxpayers’ money". In 2021, He referred to Maryam as adaku rani (queen of thieves) and alleged that she underwent a cosmetic surgery worth Rs80 million. He stated, "I have more to reveal, but I'll only say this to her: if we resort to slapping, she will be slapped so hard that her true face, covered by the Rs80 million surgery funded by taxpayers, will be revealed."[43][45]
In March 2024, during a session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assembly,Sobia Shahid, faced sexual harassment and lewd gestures from male PTI members when she displayed wristwatches, symbolizing allegations against PTI leaderImran Khan for purchasing wristwatches from the state treasury at a discounted price and selling them at a higher price to make a profit. Gandapur, recently elected as the leader of the house, addressed the incident by saying "she asked for it," suggesting that Sobia Shahid should have expected such behavior beforehand when she waved the wristwatches.[46][47]
Gandapur has been accused of being close or having ties with "the establishment",[48] and being engaged in "back-door contacts" with it,[49] previously having claimed in March that "Imran Khan will decide on reconciliation with the establishment" and stated that the establishment and state institutions “are ours”.[50] In April he was nominated to be a part of a PTI group includingOmar Ayub andShibli Faraz charged with holding talks with the Establishment and stated PTI were ready for talks.[51][52] Gandapur has noted that “[w]e won't keep anything [regarding negotiations with the establishment] secret,”[53] and “Khansahib has given the task now. He has named the people [for negotiations]. When it happens it will come before everyone. Nothing will happen in secret.”[54] On 3 August, Gandapur stated that "No substantial outcome emerged in the interactions [with the establishment]”,[55] He further remarked that "Thegovernment urges us to negotiate, but we assert that you are not even the government, so what should we negotiate with you?"[56] On 27 August, the CM stated that the Establishment contacted him to cancel a scheduled rally in Islamabad, claiming that after this he consulted Imran Khan,[57] the rally in turn would be rescheduled to 8 September, with the party claiming a government conspiracy.[58][59] Federal Information MinisterAtaullah Tarar also claimed that the government had contacted Gandapur to cancel the rally.[60] Gandapur on 25 May also stated that he had met withCOASGen Asim Munir at a meeting of the SIFC to convey KPK's concerns;[61] while clarifying that the meetings did involve Imran Khan and were limited to greetings and economic affairs.[62]
Gandapur was charged byIslamabad Police on 31 October 2016, for allegedly carrying and exhibiting unlicensedfirearms andliquor. These items were reportedly found in Gandapur's vehicle outside PTI Chairman Imran Khan's residence when he arrived for the party's scheduled capital lockdown.[63]
In February 2024, Gandapur was declared a proclaimed offender for his alleged participation in the 2023May 9 riots.[64] Later, in March, an Anti-Terrorism Court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.[65]
Gandapur was Imran Khan's choice as CM but within the PTI some accuse him to being a man of the military establishment.
Political offices | ||
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Preceded by | Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2024 – present | Incumbent |