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Ali Amin Gandapur
Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur[a] (born 13 August 1978) is a Pakistani politician who is currently serving as the 18th Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in office since 2 March 2024. He served as the Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan from 5 October 2018 to 10 April 2022. He had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from August 2018 till January 2023.[2][3] Previously, he was a member of the Provincial 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-94 Dera 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. Gandapur is currently a leading member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Early life and educationSardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur was born on 13 August 1978 and belongs to a politically active Gandapur tribe of Pashtuns from Kulachi, Dera Ismail Khan. His father Aminullah Gandapur served as a caretaker cabinet member under Pervez Musharraf.[4] Political careerProvincial Assembly of Khyber PakhtunkhwaHe was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as a candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from the PK-64 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) in 2013 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial election. He received 14,047 votes and defeated an independent candidate, Qayyum Nawaz.[5] Provincial Minister in Khyber PakhtunkhwaFollowing his successful election, he was inducted into the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak[6] and was made Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Revenue and Estate.[7] National AssemblyHe was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan as a candidate of PTI from Constituency NA-38 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) in 2018 Pakistani general election.[8] Federal MinisterOn 5 October 2018, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan[9] and was appointed Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.[10] Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2024-present)He was elected to the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a second time in the 2024 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial election, running on an independent ticket affiliated with the PTI. Following his successful election as a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), he was voted in as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by a majority of 90 votes with the runner-up, Ibadullah Khan, receiving 16.[11] As Chief Minister, Gandapur has expressed his commitment to resuming the province's development initiatives. He has prioritized the restoration and expansion of the Sehat 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.[12] Land and property sectorIn a meeting with the KP Auqaf Department, Gandapur directed the initiation of GIS mapping and the creation of an Assets Management Unit for auqaf properties, together with a Quran Mahal in Peshawar 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.[13] Gandapur also stated that his government would put a special emphasis on governing the newly merged tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Gandapur and a senior minister in his cabinet, Arshad Ayub Khan met with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in March 2024 and initiated an 'urban revitalization' program which aims to expand and refurbish Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's major cities. Gandapur also stated that his government would prioritize social services and the environment. As part of Gandapur's projects, he also began the Billion Tree Plus project which aims to curb rising deforestation in the province.[14] Conservationists criticised Gandapur's government for approving the clearance of over six million cubic feet of timber, the government's handling of the ecological crisis as well as alleged complicity in ecolgical vandalism through its deforestation plan, which drew harsh criticism from the Sarhad Conservation Network (SCN) for alarming rates of deforestation.[15] HealthcareWithin the first 10 days in office, on 12 March 2024, Ali Amin Gandapur and his government restored medical facilities under the Sehat Insaf Card after it had been suspended for almost a year by the previous caretaker government due to a lack of funds.[16] 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.[17] 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 in Peshawar and seizures of illegal drugs.[18][19] Flagship development projects outlineOn 17 October 2024, Gandapur and his Finance advisor, Muzzammil Aslam, approved several key development projects for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). These flagship projects include life insurance coverage for the entire provincial population, the establishment of the province’s own Islamic Takaful insurance company, a solarisation program, and a home-stay tourism scheme. Other approved projects include the construction of the Peshawar-Dera Ismail Khan Motorway, a 120-kilometre-long transmission line, the creation of a trade corridor hub, and a debt management fund. The provincial government aims to complete these initiatives by the end of 2027. The life insurance scheme is the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s second major social security initiative after the Sehat Insaf Card, offering compensation of Rs500,000 to Rs1,000,000 to the heirs of deceased family heads. Additionally, the government plans to construct a 365-kilometre-long motorway to improve trade links between KPK, Punjab, and Balochistan and will build a transmission line to supply affordable electricity to local industries. The solarisation scheme plans to provide solar units to 130,000 low-income households and government buildings, while the home-stay tourism program will offer loans to residents in remote areas to promote tourism. The government also plans to establish a trade corridor hub at Torkham and a debt management fund to strengthen financial stability.[20] KP Solar SchemeChief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced the KP Solar Scheme, a project to deliver free solar panels to 130,000 citizens in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project was inaugurated on 15 August 2024.[21] The initiative was launched due to rising costs for electricity bills and rising electricity demands countrywide, while Gandapur has emphasized solar energy as the solution.[22] 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. He announced 30,000 solar panels would be delivered to poor families in tribal districts.[21] Anti-unemployment measuresTo address unemployment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gandapur initiated 3 new welfare programs under the wing of the Ehsaas 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 civilian loans of up to Rs1.5 million for the construction or expansion of residential homes.[23] Allegation of corruptionShakeel Khan, who served as the Communication and Works Minister in the Gandapur ministry, has 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.[24] In response to the allegations, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) formed a three-member committee to watch over Gandapur’s government.[25] De-notification of PTI membersFollowing the allegations of Shakeel Khan, Gandapur was seen "sending a strong message to those criticizing his governance" by relieving Mohammad Atif Khan, Sher Ali Arbab and Junaid Akbar from their parties positions. According to The 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."[26] 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."[27] In Business Recorder, "sources said that MNAs Atif Khan, Junaid Akbar Khan, and ex-provincial minister Shakeel Khan held detailed meetings with Arif 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."[28] CriticismZalmay Azad writing in The Friday Times claimed in June 2024 that Gandapur's tenure as Chief Minister has been marked "unfulfilled promises" and a "significant gap between his rhetoric and reality."[29] Later in September, Azad praised Gandapur for having proven his critics wrong and having "reinvigorated the party's base", supporting his empowerment of provincial police and local jirgas for dispute resolution and his direct engagement of Afghan diplomats.[30] The Federal government and its allies critcised Gandapur for "unilaterally" holding peace talks with the Government of Afghanistan.[31] Aasim Sajjad Akhtar in Dawn 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."[32] ControversiesAccusations of having paraded a girl nakedHe was accused of being involved in a case where a girl was allegedly stripped and publicly humiliated in his village in 2017.[33][34] Gandapur visited the girl and maintained that he had not supported the accused and offered to take financial responsibility of the girl.[35] Accusations of sexismAt several occasions, Gandapur made provocative and sexist remarks about Maryam 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 a daku 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."[34][36] 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 leader Imran 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.[37][38] Alleged ties to the military establishmentGandapur has been accused of being close or having ties with "the establishment",[39] and being engaged in "back-door contacts" with it,[40] 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”.[41] In April he was nominated to be a part of a PTI group including Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz charged with holding talks with the Establishment and stated PTI were ready for talks.[42][43] Gandapur has noted that “[w]e won't keep anything [regarding negotiations with the establishment] secret,”[44] and “Khan sahib 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.”[45] On 3 August, Gandapur stated that "No substantial outcome emerged in the interactions [with the establishment]”,[46] He further remarked that "The government urges us to negotiate, but we assert that you are not even the government, so what should we negotiate with you?"[47] 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,[48] the rally in turn would be rescheduled to 8 September, with the party claiming a government conspiracy.[49][50] Federal Information Minister Ataullah Tarar also claimed that the government had contacted Gandapur to cancel the rally.[51] Gandapur on 25 May also stated that he had met with COAS Gen Asim Munir at a meeting of the SIFC to convey KPK's concerns;[52] while clarifying that the meetings did involve Imran Khan and were limited to greetings and economic affairs.[53] Zalmay Asad writing in The Friday Times said that Gandapur affirmed an anti-establishment stance alongside Imran Khan, primarily by directly naming the establishment as responsible in public speeches and proving that he was "not playing a 'double game'".[30] ArrestsFirearms and liquorGandapur was charged by Islamabad Police on 31 October 2016, for allegedly carrying and exhibiting unlicensed firearms and liquor. 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.[54] May 9 riotsIn February 2024, Gandapur was declared a proclaimed offender for his alleged participation in the 2023 May 9 riots.[55] Later, in March, an Anti-Terrorism Court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.[56] NotesReferences
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