PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Sohail Afridi was elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, replacing Ali Amin Gandapur amid controversy over the latter’s resignation.
Afridi secured 90 votes in the provincial assembly session, which was convened to elect a new leader of the house. The session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, descended into chaos over questions surrounding the authenticity of Gandapur’s resignation. Both Gandapur and Afridi attended the sitting, greeted with chants and slogans from government members.
Gandapur congratulated his successor, pledging “all kinds of support” and describing Afridi’s election as a continuation of the democratic process.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had rejected both resignation letters submitted by Gandapur, citing inconsistencies in his signatures. The governor announced on social media platform X that the letters—received on October 8 and October 11—were returned due to “disparate and unalike signatures.” He summoned Gandapur to the Governor House on October 15 to verify the documents.
In response, Gandapur said on X that the governor had now recognised his first resignation submitted on October 8, insisting both letters bore his genuine signature.
The development triggered political friction, with Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah questioning the legality of Afridi’s election. He argued that Gandapur’s resignation had not been officially accepted, nor had the cabinet been dissolved, calling the process “unconstitutional.” The opposition walked out of the session in protest.
Speaker Swati said the election was conducted in accordance with the constitution and law, asserting that all political parties were represented during the process. He suggested that the opposition’s walkout may have had “other reasons.”
Also Read: Who is Sohail Afridi, Imran Khan’s new pick to lead Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
The election has raised fresh constitutional questions, which observers expect to be settled in court. JUI-F’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman, who also contested the vote, has signaled plans to challenge the election’s validity.
