Late Rehan’s brother accuses Gandapur of bribery to quit by-election

PESHAWAR: Mubarak Zeb, the brother of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s late leader from Bajaur, Rehan Zeb, has alleged that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur offered him Rs70 million and a job to dissuade him from contesting the by-election in PK-22 Bajaur.

Rehan Zeb’s family was denied a ticket by the PTI for the by-election in Bajaur, prompting his brother to enter the electoral race as an independent candidate.

Mubarak Zeb claimed that he was approached by Ali Amin Gandapur with an offer of Rs70 million and a government job to withdraw from the election.

In an interview with Geo News, Mubarak Zeb said that he had discussions with Ali Amin Gandapur, Barrister Gohar, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Ali Muhammad Khan regarding the party ticket, but Ali Amin Gandapur responded by saying, “I will offer you Rs70 million and a job, and you withdraw from the election.”

Expressing disappointment with the PTI leadership, Mubarak Zeb criticized the party for betraying him and his family.

He recounted a phone call from Mashal Yusufzai instructing him to visit the Chief Minister’s House alone, indicating an attempt to silence him with a bribe in private.

He further said that although the PTI is in power in KP, Rehan Zeb’s killers have not been arrested. He said, “My brother sacrificed for PTI, but we did not receive justice.”

In response to the allegations, Information Adviser Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif clarified that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur did not offer anyone a government job or Rs70 million. He stressed that everyone has the right to contest elections.

Barrister Saif expressed hope that Rehan Zeb’s family would prioritize the party’s interests, with the ultimate decision resting in the hands of the people.

In the by-elections, the PTI has nominated Gul Zafar from NA-8 Bajaur and Gul Dad from PK-22 Bajaur as its candidates.