Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Gandapur to Challenge Governor’s Oath-Taking of 25 Reserved Seat MPAs

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced plans to legally challenge Governor Faisal Karim Kundi’s administration of oaths to 25 Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) on reserved seats, calling it a violation of constitutional norms. The move, set against the backdrop of heated Senate election preparations, highlights escalating tensions between the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and opposition parties, with Gandapur vowing to protect his party’s mandate.

The dispute stems from a chaotic KP Assembly session on July 20, 2025, intended to swear in 21 women and four minority MPAs from opposition groups like Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). When PTI’s Sher Ali Afridi raised a quorum objection, Speaker Babar Saleem Swati adjourned the session, prompting the opposition to seek relief from the Peshawar High Court (PHC). The PHC ordered Governor Kundi to administer the oaths under Articles 65 and 255(2) of the Constitution, ensuring the assembly reached its full 145-member strength for the Senate polls. Gandapur, however, argues the oaths should have occurred on the assembly floor, stating, “This is a mockery of democratic process” (@peshavar, X post, July 20, 2025). He plans to contest the PHC’s ruling, claiming it undermines the assembly’s authority.

PTI’s defiance reflects broader political fault lines in KP, where the party’s dominance is challenged by opposition resilience and internal dissent. The oath-taking enabled the Senate elections, but PTI’s partial boycott, driven by discontent over Senate ticket distribution, cost them a seat. Law Minister Aftab Alam admitted, “Our internal issues gave the opposition an edge.” Meanwhile, PML-N’s Sobia Shahid accused PTI of stalling tactics, saying, “They’ve delayed KP’s progress for too long” (The News, July 21, 2025).

Gandapur’s legal challenge signals PTI’s determination to assert control, but it risks further polarizing KP’s political landscape. As the province navigates this constitutional tug-of-war, the clash between PTI’s agenda and opposition strategies underscores a deeper struggle for democratic legitimacy, with the public watching closely.