Afridi has become the 30th Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, emphasizing that the province “belongs only to Imran Khan” and pledging to continue the PTI leader’s vision. “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 said.
Hailing from the tribal districts, Afridi highlighted his mission to address long-standing 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.
Afridi also acknowledged PTI’s social media team for their efforts, clarifying that no member of his family is involved in politics and his rise is the result of his own hard work. Celebrations have reportedly broken out across the tribal districts following his election.
The leadership change followed the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, which triggered a high-stakes contest in the provincial assembly. Although the Governor initially sought to delay voting by rejecting the resignation, the KP Assembly moved forward to elect its new Leader of the House.
PTI is backing Afridi, a young and dynamic politician from the Shalobar Qambar Khel tribe of Khyber district, who has been a party stalwart since 2007, starting with the Insaf Students Federation (ISF). He has steadily risen through the ranks, serving as provincial minister for higher education, and was elected MPA from PK-70 in February.
Afridi also led PTI’s youth wing in Peshawar and participated in the party’s 126-day Islamabad sit-in. Known for his determination and fearless leadership, he enjoys strong party backing.
On the opposition front, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, brother of JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, emerged as Afridi’s main challenger. However, most opposition candidates were expected to withdraw before the vote, leaving Afridi poised for a decisive victory.
Numbers Game
The KP Assembly has 145 members, dominated by independents allied with PTI. Of these, 92 independents support PTI, while JUI-F and PML-N hold 18 seats each, PPP 10, ANP 4, and PTI Parliamentarians 3. The arithmetic suggests Afridi’s rise to Chief Minister was almost inevitable.
As Khyber Pakhtunkhwa watches closely, all eyes are on Sohail Afridi, the young PTI leader expected to reshape the province’s political landscape. Will he live up to expectations and usher in a new era for KP? The answer comes today.
