ISLAMABAD: Reliable sources have revealed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan ignored Sohail Afridi before his appointment as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister. According to inside sources, it was actually former KP federal minister Murad Saeed who proposed Sohail Afridi’s name through a family member of Bushra Bibi.
Sources said that Imran Khan trusted Murad Saeed’s recommendation and approved Sohail Afridi for the post without knowing him personally. “Imran Khan probably didn’t even know who Sohail Afridi was,” claimed a close source, adding that the appointment was entirely based on Murad Saeed’s suggestion.
Meanwhile, former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur had opposed launching another protest movement. He reportedly advised Imran Khan to pursue dialogue rather than confrontation, arguing that another street campaign could lead to more bloodshed among party activists.
However, insiders claim that Imran Khan rejected Gandapur’s advice and insisted on the protests to press for his political goals and his personal release from prison.
Party sources said Gandapur believed the negotiations could lead to the release of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi if he was given the power to conduct the negotiations independently. He was also reportedly upset by the social media criticism leveled at him by PTI’s own teams, which he blamed on Aleema Khan.
According to insiders, Gandapur informed Imran Khan that internal divisions and online attacks had weakened his political position within the party. He urged Imran Khan to unite the ranks of the PTI, but infighting persisted.
Moreover, former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has reportedly urged Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders to continue dialogue instead of another protest march on Islamabad, warning that further agitation could lead to more bloodshed among party workers.
However, party members say PTI founder Imran Khan rejected Gandapur’s advice, insisting that street agitation was necessary to achieve political goals and push for his release from prison.
According to sources within the party, Gandapur had become increasingly reluctant to support further confrontation after witnessing the violence during last November’s protest march. He believed that negotiation and dialogue were the only realistic avenues and was convinced that he could help secure the release of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi if he had the power to negotiate.
The insider further revealed that Murad Saeed had communicated through Bushra Bibi’s family the name of Sohail Afridi as Gandapur’s potential replacement as the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Imran Khan reportedly accepted the recommendation, despite having little personal knowledge of Afridi.
Gandapur is also said to be disheartened by online criticism from PTI’s social media teams, which he blamed on Aleema Khan. He told party leaders that such internal divisions and public attacks damaged his credibility and weakened party unity.
Sources added that Gandapur had repeatedly appealed to Imran Khan to bring the party together, but internal groupings and infighting persisted.
Contacted for comment, Ali Amin Gandapur did not respond to telephone calls.
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