PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sohail Afridi has been elected as the new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), securing 90 votes in the provincial assembly session held under tight security in Peshawar.
According to media reports, Afridi’s election took place amid political uncertainty following the resignation of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and opposition objections to the election process.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has 145 members, with 73 votes needed for a simple majority. Afridi comfortably crossed that mark, solidifying PTI’s control over the province. PTI MPA Asif Mehsud could not vote as he is currently abroad. After the results were announced, assembly members congratulated Afridi, with many lawmakers embracing him on the floor.
Afridi defeated Maulana Lutfur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Sardar Shahjahan Yousaf of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and Arbab Zarak of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Earlier, opposition parties had discussed fielding a joint candidate or boycotting the election, arguing that the vote should not take place until Gandapur’s resignation was constitutionally accepted. However, the government maintained that the governor had no power to approve or reject a resignation under the Constitution.
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Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had raised concerns over Gandapur’s signatures and summoned him for clarification on October 15, but the election proceeded as planned.
Speaker Babar Saleem Swati presided over the session and met Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah before voting began to address procedural issues. Strict security measures were enforced across Peshawar, and PTI lawmakers were hosted for breakfast at the Chief Minister’s House before the session.
With Afridi’s victory, PTI has strengthened its hold over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, overcoming political and legal challenges to ensure a smooth transition.
Background of Sohail Afridi
According to data provided by Private Media, Sohail Afridi, a young and dedicated PTI leader from Bara tehsil in Khyber district, currently serves as the provincial minister for higher education. Known for his grassroots activism, he has been part of PTI since his student days.
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Sohail Afridi Education
Afridi completed his schooling at Muslim Public School, Saddar Peshawar, and later earned a BS degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar.
Sohail Afridi Political Career
Afridi began his political journey in 2015 as president of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) at the University of Peshawar. He later became ISF’s regional and provincial president and also headed the Insaf Youth Wing, where he reorganised youth networks across the province.
He entered mainstream politics during the 2024 general elections, contesting from PK-70 (Khyber-II), and won by a wide margin against PML-N’s Bilawal Afridi — a major milestone in his career.
After the elections, then-Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur appointed him as Special Assistant for Communication and Works (C&W), and later, he was promoted to Minister for Higher Education.
Role in PTI Activities
Following the May 9, 2023, incidents, when several PTI leaders went into hiding, Afridi remained active in keeping the party’s youth network mobilised. He led protests, organised campaigns for Imran Khan’s release, and stayed engaged with workers through social media.
Personal Life
Afridi belongs to a family of six brothers and is the third among them. Before entering politics, he was involved in the property business.
