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Sohail Afridi Takes Oath as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amid Political Uncertainty
PTI’s Sohail Afridi takes oath as KP Chief Minister, administered by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi following PHC’s order. Ceremony marked by cheers and Afridi’s tribute to Imran Khan.
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by Muhammad Hashir
2025-10-15
Sohail Afridi Takes Oath as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amid Political Uncertainty

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MPA Sohail Afridi was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, with Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administering the oath in a ceremony held at the Governor’s House.

Footage from the event showed large crowds gathered around the stage as Afridi took his oath, with chants in support of PTI echoing through the hall. In a symbolic gesture, Afridi held up a portrait of PTI founder Imran Khan, underscoring his allegiance to the party’s imprisoned leader.

Following the ceremony, PTI leader and former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser extended his congratulations, saying, “I hope that, God willing, Sohail Afridi will take effective measures to resolve the province’s issues and for the welfare and prosperity of the people. I also hope he will play a role in securing the release of all innocent prisoners, including Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, and Shah Mahmood Qureshi.”

Afridi’s oath-taking comes two days after his election as chief executive during a provincial assembly session marred by an opposition walkout and political confusion over the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

Earlier this week, Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice S.M. Attique Shah had declared Afridi’s election constitutional and directed the governor to administer the oath by 4 p.m. Wednesday, warning that if he failed to do so, the provincial assembly speaker would conduct the ceremony under Article 255(2) of the Constitution.

Following the court’s directive, the PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged Governor Kundi to fulfill his “constitutional and legal responsibility” and proceed with the oath. A spokesperson for the governor later confirmed that the ceremony would indeed be held at the Governor’s House.

The controversy stemmed from Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation, which the governor initially returned, citing discrepancies in signatures between two versions submitted. However, PTI maintained that the governor’s approval was not required for a chief minister’s resignation to take effect under the Constitution.

Despite the uncertainty, PTI went ahead with Afridi’s election, boycotted by the opposition, and promptly petitioned the PHC to ensure the oath-taking ceremony proceeded without delay.

With his formal induction, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi faces the challenge of navigating a politically charged landscape in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — balancing governance responsibilities with the PTI’s broader struggle for the release and political rehabilitation of its senior leadership.
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