“Power struggle” deepens in PTI KP with removal of key leaders

There has been a significant turnover in the party’s provincial hierarchy with the removal of Atif Khan, the President of the PTI Peshawar region, and Sher Ali Arbab, the President of the District Peshawar.

Sher Ali Arbab’s unwillingness to sign a pledge of confidence in the chief minister caused Atif Khan’s expulsion, sources say, and his public backing of Minister Shakil Khan’s dismissal was the cause of Atif Khan’s downfall.

Their positions have been filled by Irfan Saleem as President of the District of Peshawar and Arbab Asim as the new President of the PTI Peshawar Region.

Shahab Advocate has additionally been named District Peshawar’s General Secretary.

Ali Asghar Khan, the general secretary of PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, formally announced the changes with the provincial president’s permission.

Previously, on August 16, Shakeel Ahmed Khan, the Minister of Works and Communications of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), announced his resignation, citing “corruption” in the provincial administration.

PTI MPA Khan had presented Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with his resignation letter, citing his disapproval of the existing government.

The minister had told the chief minister in his resignation letter that he could no longer tolerate the corruption and that he was forced to resign.

At the session of the KP Assembly, Shakeel Ahmed promised to disclose the specifics of his resignation as minister.

A previous accusation made by Shakeel Ahmed was that the chief minister was interfering in his ministry and impeding his capacity to carry out his duties because of the province’s widespread corruption and poor administration.