Journalists question Imran Khan’s choice of Ali Amin Gandapur as KP CM

Following the announcement of Ali Amin Gandapur as the PTI candidate for Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the party founder Imran Khan, journalists expressed skepticism about how 'he meets the criteria for such a significant role'.

PTI supporters defended the nomination of Ali Amin Gandapur as KP CM, highlighting his unwavering loyalty to Imran Khan despite alleged torture during his incarceration after the May 9 riots.

However, political analysts questioned Gandapur’s hardline stance against political opponents. They also raised doubts about whether Imran Khan's decision aimed solely at exhibiting confrontational demeanour toward the police and bureaucracy.

Researcher Ammar Rashid turned to ‘X’ and asked, “What are Gandapur's qualifications for managing public finances, education, health, industrial dev, social dev, LGs, or any other of the governance domains needed for running a province of 40m?”

What are Gandapur's qualifications for managing public finances, education, health, industrial dev, social dev, LGs, or any other of the governance domains needed for running a province of 40m? Or is 'police aur bureaucracy ko danda dena' the only criteria for CMship in PTI abhi? https://t.co/9XlKjEOS1p

— Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) February 13, 2024

Veteran journalist Abbas Nasir stated, “Amin Gandapur's choice as CM KP only means PTI will not back off from confrontation. Would be interesting to see how the new government and, more important, its backers deal with the resultant situation.”

Amin Gandapur's choice as CM KP only means PTI will not back off from confrontation. Would be interesting to see how the new govt and, more imp, its backers deal with the resultant situation.

— Abbas Nasir (@abbasnasir59) February 13, 2024

Lawyer and political analyst Reema Omer posted an older video of Gandapur addressing a rally, where he used offensive language against his political opponents.

Ali Amin Gandapur is one of the most vile and misogynistic politicians in the country

Here he is making sexist, inflammatory comments about Maryam Nawaz before a charged crowd using violent language

Horrifying to imagine he could be the CM of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa pic.twitter.com/QVSrmuhiPK

— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) February 13, 2024

Anchorperson Rabia Anum wrote, “It is a pity that no politician of this country, including Khan Sahb, is ready to learn from his mistakes. The youth of KP are reshaping their ideology and actively working to change their circumstances while holding their traditions dear. The people of Pakhtunkhwa should get a decent, sensible CM who prioritises education, development, and protection of women in the province, but the logic behind such decisions is unclear even though there are many better options in the province.”

افسوس یہ ہے کہ اس ملک کا کوئی سیاستدان بشمول خان صاحب اپنی غلطیوں سے کچھ سیکھنے کو تیار نہیں۔ خیبر پختونخوا کا نوجوان شعور والا ہے، وہ اپنی روایتوں کو قریب رکھتے ہوئے اپنی سوچ اور حالات کو بدل رہے ہیں۔ پختونخوا کے عوام کو ایک مہذب، اور سمجھدار سی ایم ملنا چاہئے جو صوبے کی تعلیم،… https://t.co/CDnFnddtGi

— Rabia Anum Obaid (@RabiaAnumm) February 13, 2024

“Has Imran Khan not found a better leader than Ali Amin Ganda for the Chief Ministership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa? These are the reasons why critics believe that even if Khan comes back to power, his choice will be people like Buzdar and Gandapur,” journalist Kamran Yousaf noted. 

کیا عمران خان صاحب کو خیبر پختون خواہ کی وزارت اعلی کے لیے علی امین گنڈا پر سے بہتر کوئی لیڈر نہیں ملا؟ یہ وہ وجوہات ہیں جس کی وجہ سے ناقدین سمجھتے ہیں کہ اگر خان صاحب دوبارہ اقتدار میں آ بھی جائیں ان کی چوائس بزدار اور گنڈا پر جیسے ہی لوگ ہوں گے

— Kamran Yousaf (@Kamran_Yousaf) February 13, 2024