Sohail Afridi Sworn In as KP CM Amid Political Uncertainty

Farzana Khan

Peshawar: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sohail Afridi was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, with Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administering the oath in compliance with a Peshawar High Court (PHC) order.

Footage from the ceremony showed a large crowd surrounding the governor and the newly appointed chief minister during the proceedings. Afridi, visibly emotional, raised a portrait of PTI founder Imran Khan after taking the oath.

Following the ceremony, PTI’s chairman Imran Khan congratulated Afridi on his appointment, expressing hope that the new chief minister would address provincial challenges and work for “the welfare and prosperity of the people.”

According to the CM’s focal person on digital media, Yar Muhammad Khan Niazi, Afridi was presented with a guard of honour upon his arrival at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

Afridi’s election on Monday followed days of political tension and uncertainty surrounding the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The PHC had declared Afridi’s election constitutional and directed the governor to administer the oath by 4pm Wednesday, warning that otherwise the KP Assembly Speaker would conduct the ceremony under Article 255(2) of the Constitution.

A day earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had publicly urged the governor to fulfill his constitutional duty and administer the oath in line with the court’s directive.

Afridi’s appointment came amid confusion over Gandapur’s resignation letters, which the governor had returned due to “disparate signatures.” The PTI maintained that a chief minister’s resignation did not require gubernatorial approval under the Constitution and proceeded to elect Afridi in a session boycotted by opposition members.

Sources within PTI said Imran Khan has given Afridi full authority to form his cabinet, which will include elected members and ticket holders. Afridi secured 90 votes in the assembly session presided over by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.