KP Governor Returns CM Gandapur’s Resignations Over ‘Disparate’ Signatures, Summons Him on October 15

Peshawar, October 13, 2025 – The political crisis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deepened as KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi returned the resignation letters of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, citing “disparate and unalike signatures”, and summoned him to the Governor’s House on October 15 at 3 pm to verify their authenticity.

The development came hours before the KP Assembly convened today at 10 am to elect a new chief minister. Governor Kundi, currently out of Peshawar, stated in a post on X that both resignation letters — one typed (submitted October 8) and the other handwritten (submitted October 11) — had differences in signatures, warranting personal verification.

CM Gandapur responded on X, saying both letters carried his “authentic signatures” and noted that the Governor’s office had now finally acknowledged receiving the first resignation submitted on October 8 — which was earlier denied.

The resignation saga has thrown the province into constitutional confusion. Despite no formal approval of Gandapur’s resignation, PTI has moved forward with the CM election, nominating Sohail Afridi.

Four candidates have filed nomination papers: PTI’s Sohail Afridi, JUI-F’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman, PML-N’s Sardar Shah Jehan Yousaf, and PPP’s Arbab Zarak Khan. Opposition leaders criticized PTI’s move, calling it premature and unconstitutional.

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Opposition parties are mulling a legal challenge, while PTI claims efforts by “invisible forces” are undermining democracy. Talks with JUI-F, ANP, and PML-N are ongoing as PTI seeks support for Afridi’s unopposed election.

The province now awaits clarity amid this unprecedented political standoff.