PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) nominated Sohail Afridi has been elected as the next Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, replacing Ali Amin Gandapur.
He received 90 votes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly session today. The KP Assembly convened today to elect a new leader, with chaos erupting over the status of Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation as the chief minister.
Also read: Gandapur ‘congratulates’ Afridi; pandemonium erupts in KP Assembly
The session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, saw the arrival of both Gandapur and Afridi, greeted with cheers and slogans by government members. Gandapur offered warm congratulations to Sohail Afridi, stating that the latter would receive “all kinds of support” from him and hailing Afridi as the continuation of the democratic process.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi rejected both resignation letters submitted by outgoing CM Ali Amin Gandapur, citing inconsistencies in the signatures. The governor has also summoned Gandapur to Governor House on October 15 to verify the authenticity of the documents.
Governor Kundi announced the decision on social media platform X, confirming that both resignation letters, received on October 8 and October 11, were returned with observations due to “disparate and unalike signatures.”
In response, Gandapur acknowledged on X that the governor had now officially recognised the first resignation submitted on October 8, previously denied by the Governor’s Office. He insisted both letters carried his genuine signature.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah questioned the legitimacy of the election of the new provincial chief. He claimed that Gandapur’s resignation had not been officially accepted and that neither the cabinet was suspended nor a proper procedure was followed, as per the Constitution.
“I still consider Ali Amin Gandapur as the Chief Minister,” Ibadullah said, holding up a letter from the Governor House as evidence that the resignation was not legally processed. “We cannot be part of an unconstitutional move,” he added, before announcing a walkout.
Also read: Governor Kundi returns Gandapur’s resignations, CM election in disarray
Now the election of the new CM has raised more constitutional questions, which are likely to be sorted through courts in the coming days. JUI-F’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman – another nominee for chief minister – has already hinted at the possibility of challenging the vote in court.