Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Sohail Afridi has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after securing 90 votes in the provincial assembly on Monday. The election took place despite a complete boycott by opposition parties, who described the process as “unconstitutional.”
Speaker Babar Saleem Swati presided over the session and announced Sohail Afridi’s victory. He emphasized that the election followed constitutional procedures, stating, “The Chief Minister is the constitutional head of the province and must be elected as per the law.”
Opposition Walks Out
The opposition alliance, led by Leader of the Opposition Dr. Ibadullah, boycotted the election proceedings. Senior JUI-F leaders Maulana Lutfur Rehman and Akram Khan Durrani also joined the walkout. Dr. Ibadullah declared that the vote was unconstitutional, claiming that Ali Amin Gandapur was still the legitimate chief minister. “We cannot support an election held while another Chief Minister remains in office,” he said.
Gandapur’s Statement And PTI’s Stand
Outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur congratulated Sohail Afridi on his election and said that his resignation had been submitted as per party instructions. He stressed the importance of unity and urged opposition lawmakers to respect the democratic process.
PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar issued a warning to party lawmakers, cautioning them against defying the leadership’s directives. “Anyone betraying the party’s nominee will face public accountability,” Akbar said.
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Governor Raises Concerns
Earlier, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi questioned the authenticity of Gandapur’s resignation, citing differences in signatures on two letters. He summoned Gandapur to appear in person on October 15 to verify the document.
Despite the governor’s objections, the assembly went ahead with the election, and Sohail Afridi was formally declared the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The PTI-led government currently holds 93 seats in the 145-member assembly, while the opposition controls 52. A simple majority of 73 votes was required for victory.
