• KP CM claims she is backed by ‘intelligence’, says ex-PM’s sister
• Gandapur says he tattled on Aleema for ‘provoking’ rifts

ISLAMABAD: The PTI has found itself embroiled in another controversy after PTI chief’s sister Aleema Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur exchanged grave allegations on Tuesday, with the latter accusing Ms Khan of provoking rifts in the party.

The argument started with Aleema Khan claiming that CM Gandapur had told her imprisoned brother that she was trying to hijack the PTI with the help of an intelligence agency. She made these remarks only a day after CM Gandapur met Mr Khan in jail for more than two hours and left the premises without talking to the media persons.

The claims made by Ms Khan, who came to the limelight after her brother was jailed in a corruption case and regularly meets the former premier in Adiala jail, strengthened speculations about a severe rift between the PTI and the family members of Imran Khan.

Speaking about the meeting, Aleema, who met her brother on Tuesday, claimed that Imran Khan had told her that Ali Amin Gandapur had contacted him to record a complaint against her. “Ali Amin said that I am in contact with the MI (Military Intelligence) and want to become the party chairman,” she said, adding that Imran would remain the chairman.

In a late-night video message, CM Gandapur confirmed that he complained to Imran Khan about his sister allegedly trying to split the party. He confirmed there was a rift in the party and Aleema Khan, with the help of some vloggers, was trying to provoke the party workers against him and to discredit the party leaders. He said he told the party founder that the factions were working for their vested interests and that had hurt the campaign for his release.

CM Gandapur said Aleema Khan, allegedly with the help of powers that be, was trying to divide the party, adding that her son was released in a few days while scores of party workers, including Imran Khan himself, were languishing in jail for months.

He further alleged that Hafeezullah Niazi, a relative of Mr Khan, was allegedly running a campaign for Aleema Khan as the PTI chairman.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, meanwhile, defended Aleema Khan. “I want to say that all three sisters of Imran Khan have nothing to do with politics and they come to Adiala jail only to meet their brother,” he said earlier in the day.

No one in the family wanted to become the party chairman, he said. “I have not heard about it, but I know some people have been trying to create controversy. I don’t think that Ali Amin had said that and if he [Ali Amin] did, I condemn it,” Barrister Gohar said.

He said during his tenure as the interim party chief, Aleema Khan had never interfered in the party affairs.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2025