Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominee Sohail Afridi was elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday after securing 90 votes in the provincial assembly. The election, however, was marred by controversy as opposition parties boycotted the session, calling the process “unconstitutional.”
The assembly session, presided over by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, proceeded despite opposition protests. Swati announced Afridi’s victory, stating that the election was conducted strictly under constitutional procedures. “The chief minister is the constitutional head of the province and must be elected as per the law,” he said.
Opposition leaders, including Dr. Ibadullah, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, and Akram Durrani, led a walkout, insisting that Ali Amin Gandapur remained the legitimate chief minister. “The election of another CM while one is already in office is illegal,” Ibadullah declared before leaving the assembly floor.
Outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur congratulated Sohail Afridi and confirmed that he had resigned following PTI founder’s instructions. He urged opposition parties to respect the democratic process. Meanwhile, PTI KP President Junaid Akbar warned lawmakers against defying party directives, saying, “Anyone betraying the founder PTI’s nominee will face public accountability.”
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi earlier raised objections over Gandapur’s resignation, citing mismatched signatures on two submitted letters. He summoned Gandapur to verify the resignation in person on October 15. Despite the pending verification, the assembly went ahead with the election.
In the 145-member KP Assembly, PTI holds a majority with 93 seats against the opposition’s 52. Four candidates were initially in the running — Sohail Afridi (PTI), Maulana Lutfur Rehman (JUI-F), Arbab Zarak Khan (PPP), and Sardar Shahjahan Yousaf (PML-N).
