ISLAMABAD – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly elected Sohail Afridi as the new Chief Minister, securing 90 votes. Afridi was nominated by PTI chairman Imran Khan amid political chaos in the country’s northwestern region.
Afridi has been elected as 30th Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, stressing that province belongs only to Imran Khan and pledging to continue Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader’s vision.
New Chief Minister expressed gratitude to PTI founder Imran Khan, saying, “We love Imran Khan. The way he honored the tribal people and raised awareness among them is remarkable. I assure you that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belongs only to Imran Khan, and only his rule will prevail here.”
Afridi, who hails from tribal districts, said his election aims to address the long-standing sense of deprivation in the region. “I was not made Chief Minister through a ticket. Tribal areas have lagged behind in development, and that sense of deprivation is now going to end,” he added.
Acknowledging PTI’s social media team for their efforts, Afridi highlighted that no member of his family is involved in politics and that his rise to the position is the result of his own hard work. He also noted the celebrations taking place in the tribal districts following his election.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur resigned, paving way for a high-stakes leadership battle in the provincial assembly, but Governor apparently want to delay the voting, as he rejected the resignation.
The stage is now set for the KP Assembly to elect its new Leader of the House today, with voting expected today.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is putting its weight behind Sohail Afridi, a young and dynamic politician from Shalobar Qambar Khel tribe of Khyber district, who has been a PTI powerhouse since 2007, starting with the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) and steadily climbing the ranks to become provincial minister for higher education.
Afridi was elected MPA from PK-70 in February, cementing his influence in the province.
He led PTI’s youth wing in Peshawar and take part in PTI’s legendary 126-day Islamabad sit-in, he is widely regarded as a determined and fearless leader with strong party backing.
On the opposition front, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, brother of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, is emerging as the main challenger. However, with most opposition candidates expected to withdraw before the vote, Afridi appears poised to secure a decisive victory.
Numbers Game
KP Assembly, with 145 members, is dominated by independents allied with PTI, giving the party a clear upper hand. Out of the 145 seats, 92 independents support PTI, while the JUI-F and PML-N hold 18 each, the PPP has 10, ANP 4, and PTI Parliamentarians 3. The math seems clear: Afridi’s ascent to the Chief Minister’s office looks almost inevitable.
As KP watches closely, all eyes are on Sohail Afridi, the young PTI leader who could reshape the province’s political landscape in one decisive vote. Will he live up to the hype and usher in a new era for KP? The answer comes today.
