Islamabad, September 2, 2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Tuesday offered rare insights into the troubled relationship between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the country’s establishment, while also voicing strong support for a presidential system and the long-disputed Kalabagh Dam project.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Gandapur said mistrust between Khan and the establishment was rooted in “past incidents.” He disclosed that although he had initiated efforts for dialogue, the process eventually broke down. “A time will come when everyone will realise that sitting together for the country’s sake is unavoidable,” he said.
The chief minister added that he had not been allowed to meet Khan since April 2, but if given the opportunity, he would urge him to consider dialogue with other political parties. He admitted, however, that Khan regarded mainstream parties as “thieves and looters” and remained reluctant to engage with them. Gandapur further hinted at undisclosed offers from the establishment during past negotiations, saying: “Sometimes you are pushed to the front to take action, sometimes we are. If something happened in 2018, that too was wrong.”
On the political system, Gandapur asserted that Khan had always favored a presidential form of government. “It is true that the current system is not working for us. Under a presidential system, PTI would achieve a clean sweep,” he claimed.
Turning to water and energy security, the KP chief minister strongly backed the construction of the Kalabagh Dam, calling it essential for Pakistan’s future. “Smaller dams cannot serve as an alternative. Pakistan needs the Kalabagh Dam, and the issue must be debated in the national interest rather than through the lens of provincial politics,” he said. Gandapur urged federal and provincial leaders, along with the media, to help build consensus on the project, assuring that inter-provincial reservations could be addressed.
The KP chief minister also criticized the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), arguing that it fosters dependency rather than empowerment. He proposed that KP be allocated its BISP share for two years, pledging to channel the funds into small businesses worth Rs500,000 each for deserving families.
On governance, Gandapur noted that the military had not interfered in his administrative affairs and reiterated PTI’s stance that all institutions should work strictly within their constitutional domain. He also voiced support for the creation of new provinces, but only if they were financially sustainable.
Dismissing the relevance of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in today’s politics, Gandapur said even the PML-N and PPP preferred coalition governments without him. “Whenever Maulana is part of a government, he blackmails it to get his demands met,” he alleged.
