Imran Khan Replaces Ali Amin Gandapur with Junaid Akbar as PTI President for KP
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday named Junaid Akbar as the party’s president for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The appointment comes shortly after Akbar’s election as chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) with bipartisan support from both opposition and government members.
The PAC, one of the most influential parliamentary committees, wields extensive powers, including the authority to summon individuals or obtain records from government departments concerning financial matters.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja issued the formal notification of Akbar’s appointment, which replaces Ali Amin Gandapur in the role. Gandapur, who also serves as KP’s chief minister, reportedly requested to step down as provincial president to focus on governance and counterterrorism efforts in the region.
Raja noted that the PTI founder has also instructed him to begin consultations for reorganising the party in Punjab. Additionally, sources revealed that Khan directed Gandapur to disengage from political activities in Dera Ismail Khan and concentrate on addressing corruption concerns in KP.
Imran Khan has expressed unease over governance issues in the province, emphasizing the need for better performance. To this end, he held extended discussions with Junaid Akbar and Atif Khan, addressing various party and provincial matters.
Junaid Akbar, currently a Member of the National Assembly (MNA), has also been tasked with resolving internal PTI matters in KP. His new position as PAC chairman, which had been vacant since the February 2024 general elections, adds to his responsibilities.
By parliamentary tradition, the chairmanship of the PAC is allocated to the opposition, a practice established after the 2008 general elections and maintained ever since. Akbar’s bipartisan election to the post signals his credibility across political lines.
This reshuffle reflects PTI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its political and administrative presence in KP while addressing governance and organisational challenges in other provinces.
