Two cabinet members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Aqib Ullah Khan and Faisal Khan Tarakai, have tendered their resignations, a move confirmed by former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser on Tuesday.
Both legislators hail from Swabi, with Aqib Ullah being the brother of Asad Qaiser, who disclosed the development through a social media post. Aqib Ullah was serving as provincial irrigation minister, while Tarakai held the portfolio of elementary and secondary education in the Ali Amin Gandapur-led cabinet.
Although no formal reasons were cited for the decision, the two leaders reiterated their allegiance to PTI founder Imran Khan, who remains in jail.
The resignations follow a lackluster PTI rally in Peshawar that drew a smaller-than-expected turnout, fueling speculation that the party’s once-firm grip on the province is weakening. Growing discontent among workers has also been directed at Chief Minister Gandapur, whose leadership is increasingly being questioned by loyalists frustrated over the failure to secure Imran Khan’s release.
At the same time, rifts within the party’s provincial setup have become more visible, with Asad Qaiser emerging as the face of a faction seeking influence in PTI’s traditional stronghold of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.