CM Gandapur accuses Aleema Khan of creating rift in PTI, blames ‘establishment backing’

• KP chief minister reaffirms loyalty to Imran Khan, reiterating ‘my leader remains my priority’
• Defends budget presentation, asserts budget presentation was necessary to avoid govt’s disqualification
• Rejects backlash, terming campaigns branding him and MPAs as traitors ‘highly inappropriate’
• Calls for unity, warning PTI is losing hope and focus on Khan’s release amid ‘petty divisions’

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday accused PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan of playing a “direct role” in creating divisions within the party, alleging that she was being supported by elements of the “establishment” and Military Intelligence.

In a strongly worded video statement, Gandapur reaffirmed his loyalty to the jailed PTI founder but voiced concern that internal campaigns and messaging — allegedly driven by Aleema Khan — were sowing mistrust against him and his government.

علی امین گنڈا پور نے الزام لگایا کہ علیمہ خان کو ایم آئی سپورٹ کررہی ہے۔۔۔آپ 3 سوالوں کے جواب دینگے؟ عام انتخابات 2024 میں آپ پی ٹی آئی کے واحد امیدوار تھے جن کہ تین حلقوں پر ایک نشان کیسے تھا کس نے دلوایا؟
آپ کے گوشواروں میں تضاد سے متعلق نااہلی کی درخواست کون تاخیر کا شکار کرا… pic.twitter.com/fohVwvmIhX

— Fahim Akhtar Malik (@writetofahim) September 30, 2025

‘My loyalty is with Imran Khan’

“Imran Khan is my leader, I am loyal to him. It is my right to convey the truth to him,” Gandapur said, adding that he had informed Khan about the “real situation” during a recent prison meeting. He claimed that earlier his requests to meet Khan were blocked, and messages were only relayed through Khan’s sisters.

The chief minister said this communication gap created “the impression that KP’s leadership was going against Khan,” especially during the provincial budget session.

Budget controversy

Gandapur defended presenting the provincial budget, saying it was necessary to prevent the PTI government from being disqualified. “Since there were no instructions from Imran Khan not to present the budget, we fulfilled our duty,” he said.

He lamented that despite his explanations, “campaigns declaring me and parliament traitors were launched,” which he said were unfair and misleading. “When it came to passing the budget, we made it clear to Khan sahib that he could make any changes he wanted. Yet our MPAs were accused of treachery.”

The KP CM also rejected allegations that he was part of a “minus Imran Khan” formula, saying: “Nobody could even think or have the courage to do so.”

Aleema Khan’s alleged role

According to Gandapur, Aleema Khan was “provoking vloggers” to deepen divisions within PTI and even promoting campaigns to declare her as the party’s chairperson. “Hafeezullah Niazi sahib refers to Aleema Khan as the prime minister in his articles, writing that she should become the party chairperson,” he claimed.

He said such efforts were damaging PTI’s unity at a time when the focus should be on securing Khan’s release from prison. “If you want to elect a chairperson then go ahead … whoever you nominate will be acceptable, but do it. Don’t run harmful campaigns,” he stressed.

Call for unity

Gandapur warned that petty issues and “groupism” were weakening the party and dampening its supporters’ morale. “The party is losing hope because instead of working for Imran Khan’s release, some members are serving their own interests,” he said.

Reiterating his loyalty, Gandapur told Khan that Aleema had played a “big role” in dividing PTI. “The nation and the party want unity. If we stand divided, it only benefits our opponents.”