Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur 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]
Ali Amin Gandapur | |
---|---|
![]() Gandapur in 2024 | |
18th Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
Assumed office 2 March 2024 | |
Governor | Haji Ghulam Ali Faisal Karim Kundi |
Preceded by | Arshad Hussain Shah (caretaker) |
Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan | |
In office 13 August 2018 – 17 January 2023 | |
Constituency | NA-38 (Dera Ismail Khan-I) |
Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Revenue and Estate | |
In office 17 June 2013 – 28 May 2018 | |
Member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
Assumed office 28 February 2024 | |
Constituency | PK-113 Dera Ismail Khan-III |
In office 31 May 2013 – 28 May 2018 | |
Constituency | PK-64 Dera Ismail Khan-I |
President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
Assumed office 3 June 2023 | |
Chairman | Imran Khan |
Preceded by | Pervez Khattak |
Personal details | |
Political party | PTI (2008-present) |
Relations | Faisal Amin Khan Gandapur (brother) |
Education | Saint Helen’s Public School DI Khan Police Public School Peshawar Government College University, Lahore (FSc) National College of Arts Gomal University (BA)[1] |
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.
Early life and education
Ali 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]
He completed his early education at Saint Helen's High School, Dera Ismail Khan. Due to his keen interest in sports as a squash player, he shifted to Peshawar and matriculated from the Police Model School. He later received his BA from Gomal University in Dera Ismail Khan.[5]
Political career
Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
He 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.[6]
Provincial Minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Following his successful election, he was inducted into the provincial Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak[7] and was made Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Revenue and Estate.[8]
National Assembly
He 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.[9]
Federal Minister
On 5 October 2018, he was inducted into the federal cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan[10] and was appointed Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan.[11]
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.[12] Following his oath-taking, he pledged to tackle crime, especially drug trafficking, initiate political reforms, and tackle corruption.[13]
As Chief Minister, Gandapur has expressed his determination to restart the process of development in the province. He has prioritized the restoration of Sehat Insaf Card for the welfare of the people. He has also emphasized the importance of law and order and said that the establishment of lasting peace is the first priority. Gandapur has expressed its determination to make the province attractive to foreign investors. He has also promised to talk to the federal government to protect the rights of the province.[14]
Chief 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 August 15, 2024.[15] 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.[16] 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.[15]
Shakeel 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.[17]
Controversies
Accusations of having paraded a girl naked
He was accused of being involved in a case where a girl was allegedly stripped and publicly humiliated in his village in 2017.[18][19] Gandapur visited the girl and maintained that he had not supported the accused and offered to take financial responsibility of the girl.[20]
Accusations of sexism
At 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."[19][21]
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.[22][23]
Arrests
Firearms and liquor
Gandapur 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.[24]
May 9 riots
In February 2024, Gandapur was declared a proclaimed offender for his alleged participation in the 2023 May 9 riots.[25] Later, in March, an Anti-Terrorism Court issued a non-bailable warrant for his arrest.[26]
See also
References
- ^ "Ali Amin Gandapur: Why is the embattled politician PTI's top choice for KP CM-ship?". 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
- ^ "Ali Amin Gandapur: A perilous gamble for PTI in KPK". The Nation. 14 February 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Ali Amin Gandapur to be sworn in as KP chief minister tomorrow". 1 March 2024. Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ "Posts of power: Provincial cabinet offers diverse blend". The Express Tribune. 13 June 2013. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023.
- ^ "Ali Amin". www.pakp.gov.pk. KP Assembly. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "2013 election result" (PDF). ECP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ Report, Bureau (14 June 2013). "12 KP ministers take oath". dawn.com. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
{{cite news}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Portfolios of KP ministers announced". www.pakistantoday.com.pk. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "PTI's Ali Amin wins NA-38 elections". Associated Press Of Pakistan. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
- ^ "Six federal ministers administered oath". dawn.com. 6 October 2018. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ "Notification - 5 October 2018" (PDF). Cabinet Division. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
- ^ Hayat, Arif (1 March 2024). "PTI's Ali Amin Gandapur elected KP chief minister, demands justice for Imran and party". DAWN.COM. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Mr. Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has taken oath as the 22nd Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa". Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Khan's diehard loyalist elected K-P CM with two-thirds majority". March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ a b Khan, Jehanzeb (15 August 2024). "KP CM inaugurates solar scheme design, online application". Mashriq Vibe. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ "BIG NEWS: 2kW Solar System for Everyone in KPK 2024". solarpanelrates.pk. 23 July 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Itfan Moosazai (17 August 2024). "Ex-KP minister Shakeel Khan exposes billion-rupee corruption". Samaa TV. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
- ^ Ghauri, Irfan (10 November 2017). "PTI MNA demands removal of Ali Amin Gandapur over alleged involvement in parading girl naked: Personal investigation found the PTI K-P minister responsible for harbouring the accused". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Nomination of Ali Amin Gandapur as KP CM Sparks Controversy". 14 February 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Gandapur offers to take financial responsibility of girl assaulted in DI Khan". 13 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Federal minister Ali Amin Gandapur's sexist comments about Maryam Nawaz stir anger and disgust on Twitter". 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Sobia Shahid's Abuse In Assembly Proves How Vulnerable Women Are In Politics". Journalism for Human Rights in Pakistan. 2 March 2024. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Sawaal Yeh Hai (in Urdu). ARY News. 3 March 2024. Event occurs at 28:27. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Arsalan Altaf (8 December 2016). "Gandapur granted bail in guns and 'honey' case". The Express Tribune. Archived from the original on 18 August 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ Jahangir Akram Khan (14 February 2024). "May 9 violence: Strategy devised to arrest Ali Amin Gandapur among others". Samaa. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "Arrest warrants for Ali Amin Gandapur issued". ARY News. 19 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.