In a major political development in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province has officially welcomed its new Chief Minister, Sohaib Afridi, who took the oath of office in a ceremony held at the Governor House in Peshawar. The oath was administered by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, marking the conclusion of several days of political uncertainty and procedural delays that had captured national attention.
The ceremony, attended by key political and administrative figures, symbolized the formal transition of leadership within the province.
Present on the occasion were Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, senior officials including the Inspector General of Police and Chief Secretary, and a significant number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislators from both provincial and national assemblies. The atmosphere inside the venue was charged with emotion as PTI workers, gathered in large numbers, chanted slogans celebrating their party’s renewed leadership in the province.
The chain of events leading to this moment began earlier in October when former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced his resignation from office. His departure was confirmed by PTI’s Secretary General, Salman Akram Raja, who publicly stated that party chairman Imran Khan had nominated Sohaib Afridi as the new provincial chief executive. However, what appeared to be a smooth transition soon turned into a constitutional tangle when Governor Faisal Karim Kundi raised objections over the authenticity of Gandapur’s resignation letters.
According to the Governor’s office, two separate resignation letters had been received on October 8 and 11, both bearing different signatures. This discrepancy led the Governor to return the documents for verification, sparking controversy over the legitimacy of Gandapur’s decision to step down. The Governor later announced on the social media platform ‘X’ that the resignation had been “returned with objections,” further deepening the political deadlock in the province. Gandapur, on his part, maintained that both letters were duly signed by him and represented his genuine intent to resign.
Amid the growing uncertainty, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly convened on October 13 under Speaker Babar Saleem Swati to elect a new leader of the House. PTI’s nominee, Sohaib Afridi, secured an overwhelming victory with 90 votes, officially becoming the 30th Chief Minister of the province. Despite the successful vote, Governor Kundi publicly declared the election unconstitutional, arguing that until Gandapur’s resignation was formally accepted, the assembly’s move to elect a new Chief Minister had no legal standing.
This constitutional impasse pushed PTI to seek judicial intervention. The party filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court, urging the judiciary to direct the Governor to complete the oath-taking process. Responding swiftly, the court ruled that the Governor must administer the oath to the newly elected Chief Minister by October 15, 4 p.m., and added that in case of non-compliance, the Assembly Speaker would be authorized to perform the ceremony.
Following the court’s directive, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari reportedly instructed Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to respect the judicial decision and fulfill his constitutional obligation. Acting accordingly, Governor Kundi traveled from Karachi to Peshawar and, in compliance with the High Court’s order, administered the oath to Sohaib Afridi.
This event not only ended a tense chapter in provincial politics but also reaffirmed the role of the judiciary in ensuring the continuity of constitutional governance. The smooth transition that followed the court’s involvement underscored how institutional balance can restore stability even amid deep political disagreements. For PTI, the swearing-in of Sohaib Afridi represented not merely a leadership change but also a symbolic consolidation of its authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after weeks of internal and procedural turmoil.
As the province turns the page, the focus now shifts toward the challenges awaiting the new Chief Minister. From governance reforms and law and order to development projects and political reconciliation, Afridi’s tenure is expected to test his leadership on multiple fronts. However, his oath-taking — achieved through political persistence and judicial oversight — already stands as an example of how Pakistan’s democratic institutions, despite their strains, continue to function and uphold constitutional order.