After being elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur delivered a passionate victory speech on Friday, urging Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja to step down, accusing him of involvement in the alleged theft of his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf‘s (PTI) mandate during the February 8 general elections.
Gandapur, a prominent PTI leader who ran as an independent candidate from KP, clinched victory as the province’s new chief minister following the conclusion of voting in the KP Assembly. He secured 90 votes, defeating Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Dr Ibadullah Khan, who garnered 16 votes.
Addressing the lawmakers of KP in his speech, Gandapur pledged to fulfill the expectations set by the PTI founder. He expressed dismay over the treatment of PTI leaders, stating that such injustice had never been witnessed even under fascism. Gandapur emphasized the long struggle of their leader, spanning 27 years, and reiterated the call for Imran Khan’s fair trial and release from prison.
Asserting that the PTI seeks justice rather than revenge, Gandapur stressed the need for a system where abuse of power is impossible. He highlighted the deprivation faced by the party, including the loss of their election symbol and the inability to advocate for Kashmiri rights.
Gandapur insisted on reclaiming their rights, emphasizing that it is the state’s responsibility to ensure justice. He addressed the flaws in the February 8 elections, demanding the restoration of their mandate and condemning the recurrence of “selected” rulers who exploit public funds.
Referring to the rejection and subsequent restoration of PTI leaders’ nomination papers, Gandapur called for the dismissal of FIRs against PTI’s female candidates and urged Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa to establish a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 incident.
Furthermore, Gandapur pledged to maintain transparency and integrity, vowing not to engage in corruption and to prevent others from doing so. He outlined plans to improve KP’s economic situation by focusing on revenue generation without burdening the poor. Additionally, he promised initiatives such as providing property rights and free legal aid to women, promoting trade and business development, and issuing health cards to the public from the first day of Ramadan. Gandapur also announced the formation of a commission for overseas Pakistanis.