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The internet believes Ali Amin Gandapur’s nomination for KP CM is a bad idea

The internet believes Ali Amin Gandapur’s nomination for KP CM is a bad idea

People on social media spoke out against his past misogynistic comments and questioned his qualifications.
14 Feb, 2024

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Ali Amin Gandapur for the position of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and the decision is being questioned by both critics and supporters of the party online.

Gandapur has a colourful past. He was accused in 2017 of facilitating eight people accused of involvement in the alleged stripping and parading naked of a teenage girl in Dera Ismail Khan. It was a PTI lawmaker, Dawar Khan Kundi, who had claimed that Gandapur provided “support for the criminals in the case in which an orphan girl was paraded naked by eight armed men” in DI Khan.

“After privately investigating the case, the reservations of the concerned family were true. Ali Amin provided logistic and physical support to the criminals in violation of the moral norms of society,” he alleged.

In a video shared in 2021, Gandapur was seen bobbing his head to the beat of ‘Shenai’ by DJ Kantik while his son drove a vehicle and two other grown men sat in the backseat. Putting aside the strange music choice, the son in question didn’t look a day over 10, let alone 18 years old. This was a blatant violation of Pakistani law, which Gandapur swore to uphold when he was a federal minister.

Needless to say, the PTI leader does not have the cleanest record, and people are — rightfully — upset about this decision.

People called him one of the most “vile and misogynistic politicians in the country”.

The former minister fired off a series of sexist remarks at PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, including claims that she has had plastic surgery worth millions.

Speaking at a public rally in Kashmir, Gandapur called Maryam a “daku rani [bandit queen]” and claimed she had plastic surgery done worth Rs80 million and that he would “reveal her real face”.

“I have a lot more to say but I will only say this to her (Maryam) that if we come to slaps then you will get slapped so much that your [real] face will be uncovered from the Rs80 million [cosmetic] surgery you have done from our [tax] money.”

Lawyer Salaar Khan maintained that Gandapur’s nomination was “an injustice”, and those favouring him for his aggression were wrong because “he’s supposed to run a province not win a cage fight”.

He correctly pointed out that shining the spotlight on other problematic politicians is not a sustainable counterargument. Gandapur is facing opposition because of his actions as an individual. Misogynistic brutes have no place in positions of power regardless of their party alliances — this remains true for PML-N’s Rana Sanaullah when he made sexist remarks during a press conference or Afnan Ullah Khan’s disparaging comments about Mahira Khan and Anwar Maqsood.

Unacceptable behaviour, be it misogyny or violence, is unacceptable from any individual, especially when they are gunning for a spot in a public office where they will be representing hundreds of thousands of citizens.

Netizens also highlighted that those supporting Gandapur’s nomination for his thuggish behaviour could be at the receiving end of said behaviour.

“He poses the same dangers to you as he does to PTI critics.”

Others emphasised how brawn over brains was not the best idea, as historically demonstrated by other parties as well.

Activist and politician Ammar Rashid questioned what Gandapur’s qualifications were and asked if keeping the police and bureaucracy in line were the only criteria the PTI had for choosing a chief minister.

People also highlighted that party loyalty should not be the marker for defending those with a history of wrongdoing.

Others believed that support or silence regarding Gandapur’s appointment meant holding your peace when women’s rights movements ignored PTI issues.

Perhaps in 2024, political parties should reevaluate who they want in such prominent positions, and those who vote for parties should hold them accountable for whom they appoint to positions of power.

Gandapur’s appointment is a dangerous precedent to set.

Comments

waqar khan Feb 14, 2024 02:28pm
I've personally met Ali Ameen here in New York City. He had come along with Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan. Personally speaking, he has an affected personality, and reading such stories is quite shocking. At one point, I asked if I could offer him food, and the first thing he asked was if it was "Halal." It seems that political people will always object to leaders who are fair and want to bring about change. If we were to judge, why is Pakistan even allowing Nawaz or Zardari to have nominations if these two parties have over $97 trillion dollars, according to news stories, in their Swiss bank accounts?
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Shiraz Feb 14, 2024 02:34pm
Well the internet is wrong. Right man for the right job. Keep the screws tight.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad Feb 14, 2024 02:46pm
Can you name any politician in the world who is not controversial and disliked by social media?
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Zahid Latif Feb 14, 2024 03:04pm
Very disappointing choice. Such persons and such behaviours should never be encouraged.
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Pakistani Feb 14, 2024 03:09pm
Right choice under the current circumstances! To deal with shameless goons who stole peoples mandate you need someone who can stand upto them and reply in their language.
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khalid latif khan Feb 14, 2024 03:55pm
The choice of kaptaan to lead his team never cease to amaze you!
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SAQIB HAROON Feb 14, 2024 03:59pm
We support the selection of Imran Khan. The same situations were at the selection of Usman Buzdar too. So, i think this is just a normal responses as Pakistan is based on 25million, not on these people only.
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Hidayatullah Feb 14, 2024 03:59pm
If A.A.Gandapur is nominates for CM-ship, then he will rule like-wise the Bollywood Film villains - and as he does in his native area.
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Ahmed Feb 14, 2024 05:04pm
What are the qualifications of the people commenting on politics? Reema herself isn't free of flawed views. Misogyny is just one type of wrong takes but there are others. Politicians of PPP and PMlN have said misogynistic remarks. Your hatred of PTI is getting the better of you. P.S. Gandapur shouldnt be made the CM of KP.
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Ehteshamul Haque Feb 14, 2024 06:04pm
He will make a great CM of KP.... Wish him well. I commend his loyalty to PTI and Imran Khan
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Ehsan Feb 14, 2024 08:38pm
How sanity prevails and the pti supporters can force IK to change the candidate for cm position
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Ik Feb 14, 2024 08:41pm
There is no one better than him for the post. He stood with khan in very difficult times, unlike cowards khattak and Mahmood. He deserves the CM slot.
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najeeb Feb 15, 2024 05:52am
Seems.IK gives higher marks to loyalty over competence,qualifications and leadership attributes.He likes Buzdars and similar characters who are merely yes men.
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Allaisa Feb 15, 2024 07:59am
This guy needs to trim his mustache and have a haircut before he becomes CM. He looks like a hippy.
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NYS Feb 16, 2024 02:10pm
Sorry state of affairs
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Khan Feb 16, 2024 06:29pm
Ppl here supporting him are disgusting
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Azhar Feb 17, 2024 02:22am
IK never builds political consensus needed for a leader- he believed on hand picked are the best solution.
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Aamna Ovais Feb 18, 2024 02:41pm
What are the qualifications for Maryam Nawaz to be CM Punjab, except for the fact she is MNS's daughter? What were the qualifications of Bilawal Bhutto except for the fact he was BBs' son and ZAB's grandson? What were the qualifications for Hamza Shahbaz, except that he was Shahbazs' son? And also do you have any actual evidence about this parading a girl naked around video - cuz i didnt see him in the video, may be i missed it - been hearing a lot of noise over this but havent seen any actual evidence in that regard
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Aamna Ovais Feb 18, 2024 02:46pm
Also Maryam Nawaz doesn't get to speak much about misogyny since the iddat case. I would seriously advise the PMLN backers to look over their shoulders after this disgraceful iddat verdict, discussing a former PM's wifes' menstrual cycle, ignorant men haven't heard of menopause and come to lecture people about misogyny and women's rights after setting them back tenfold and then making 'no comment' - even Bilawal had the decency to say he condemned it. PMLN does not deserve a shred of sympathy for their psychopathic tendencies.
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