A significant constitutional standoff has gripped Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after Governor Faisal Karim Kundi declared the election of the province’s new Chief Minister unlawful, asserting that the process is invalid until the resignation of his predecessor, Ali Amin Gandapur, is officially accepted.

In a statement released Monday, Governor Kundi questioned the legitimacy of the recent poll. “Until Ali Amin’s resignation is approved, the election of a new Chief Minister will be considered unconstitutional,” he stated. “Who will issue the notification for the new Chief Minister? I am not yet satisfied with Ali Amin’s resignation, and that satisfaction is my constitutional right.”

The Governor has summoned Gandapur to the Governor House for a meeting on Wednesday at 3:00 pm to personally verify the authenticity of his resignation. “Ali Amin should come to meet me on Wednesday; I will serve him tea, and his resignation will be accepted then,” Kundi added.

The dispute stems from objections the Governor raised after receiving Gandapur’s resignation letter. He returned the document, citing discrepancies between the signatures on two separate copies. Governor Kundi explained he is currently away from Peshawar and will return on October 15, requiring Gandapur’s presence to resolve the matter.

Responding to the Governor’s actions during a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session, Ali Amin Gandapur confirmed he had stepped down on October 8 in adherence to a directive from PTI founder Imran Khan. He argued that the democratic process should not be obstructed or turned into a mockery.

Gandapur underscored his allegiance to his party’s leadership, remarking, “Our leader’s command is final, and it is our right to choose our own Chief Minister.”

Defending his administration’s performance, the former Chief Minister highlighted the province’s fiscal health, noting that his government transformed a near-bankrupt treasury into one with a surplus of Rs. 280 billion. He also stressed that public funds were utilized for the welfare of the people, not for political gain, and called for unity among all parties to combat the threat of terrorism in the region.