A new Gallup Pakistan survey has revealed a surprising shift in political sentiment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where a significant portion of the population sees Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as outperforming their own Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur.
The survey, based on 3,000 face-to-face interviews conducted between February and March 2025, highlights growing dissatisfaction in KP over governance and service delivery under the current provincial leadership.
According to the results, 50% of KP residents believe Maryam Nawaz is performing better than Ali Amin Gandapur. In contrast, only 38% say Gandapur is performing better than previous KP chief ministers, indicating rising frustration with his leadership.
Even more striking is that 47% of respondents said they would prefer to see Imran Khan replace Gandapur as Chief Minister, pointing to internal discontent within PTI’s voter base. While Ali Amin Gandapur was once seen as a staunch ally of Imran Khan and a strong political figure in KP, public opinion now appears to be turning.
Political observers link this shift to ongoing challenges in KP, including inflation, deteriorating public services, and limited developmental progress in various districts. Meanwhile, Maryam Nawaz, who took charge as Punjab’s first woman Chief Minister earlier this year, has been credited for swift action on infrastructure, health reforms, and administrative discipline in her province—gaining attention even beyond Punjab.
The Gallup findings suggest a crucial moment for PTI in KP, where voter trust seems to be weakening. KP, once a PTI stronghold, may now be showing signs of fatigue with the party’s provincial governance, especially when compared to the high expectations tied to its earlier tenure.
As both provincial leaders move further into their terms, the pressure will likely grow on Ali Amin Gandapur to improve performance and reconnect with public concerns. The survey acts as a political temperature check—one that could have implications for future electoral strategies and internal party decisions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
