PESHAWAR, July 3 (Alliance News): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has hinted at the possibility of a no-confidence motion against Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, following the restoration of reserved seats in the provincial assembly that has significantly boosted the opposition’s strength.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), implementing a Supreme Court order, reinstated 25 reserved seats for women and minorities in the KP Assembly.
These seats, previously held in limbo, were awarded to opposition parties including the PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, and ANP—leaving the PTI-backed independents without additional representation and altering the political balance.
PTI-backed independent MPAs currently number 93 in the KP Assembly. But with the restored seats, the combined opposition strength has increased from 27 to over 50.
This shift has sparked renewed political maneuvering and intensified speculation about a potential no-trust vote against CM Gandapur.
Addressing the media, Governor Kundi—who is also a senior PPP leader and frequent critic of the chief minister—stated that while there is no immediate plan to unseat Gandapur, the opposition reserves the democratic right to table a no-confidence motion if it gains a majority.
“We are not plotting against the KP chief minister. But the day we have even one member more than them, it will be our democratic right to move a no-confidence motion,” Kundi said in an interview with Geo News.
He noted that PTI workers may soon celebrate a “Thanksgiving Day” as their grip on the provincial assembly begins to loosen. However, in a more tempered remark, he added, “I don’t want Gandapur to be jobless or leave politics.”
The remarks came in response to CM Gandapur’s defiant statement a day earlier, in which he claimed no constitutional measure could dislodge his government. “If anyone thinks they can topple our government, I challenge them — I will quit politics. This government belongs to the PTI founder. Only he can dissolve it,” Gandapur asserted.
The reserved seats were distributed as follows: 21 seats for women—eight to JUI-F, six to PML-N, five to PPP, and one each to the ANP and PTI Parliamentarians. Of the four restored minority seats, two went to JUI-F and one each to PML-N and PPP.
While the restoration of seats has re-energized the opposition, not all parties appear eager to challenge the PTI government. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), despite receiving the largest share of new seats, has publicly stated it would not participate in any move to oust Gandapur’s administration.
“Maulana Fazlur Rehman is a seasoned politician. We remain in discussions, but JUI-F has not committed to any no-confidence effort,” Governor Kundi remarked, hinting at ongoing political dialogue.
Amid rising speculation, the ruling PML-N has denied conspiring to bring down the KP government. Reports of a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Governor Kundi earlier this week stirred debate about whether the federal government was weighing a no-confidence motion.
PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui dismissed such suggestions. “It is wrong to label the PM-governor meeting as a conspiracy. We will not resort to any tactics that push Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into a political crisis,” he said during an appearance on Geo News.
The denial was echoed by PM’s aide on public and political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, who addressed rumours about a supposed meeting between the prime minister and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. Speaking on Geo News programme Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath, Sanaullah confirmed that while a meeting did take place, the agenda did not include discussions about toppling the provincial government.
“There is no such plan. We’re not working on any no-confidence motion,” Sanaullah clarified.
Despite the public denials, the political temperature in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continues to rise, with both ruling and opposition camps engaging in rhetorical battles. While the PTI maintains its majority for now, the opposition’s growing numbers and their newly acquired parliamentary strength could eventually tilt the balance.
Observers say that even without an immediate attempt to challenge the government, the opposition now has the leverage to influence provincial legislation and policies more effectively. The reinstatement of the reserved seats has altered the post-election dynamics in KP, creating an environment ripe for political realignment.
For now, the PTI appears firmly in control, but political watchers believe the coming weeks may bring further surprises in the volatile KP political landscape.
