In Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — The political heartland of former cricket star–turned–politician Imran Khan — newly appointed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken office and sworn in his cabinet under the jailed former premier’s direct guidance, as the party grapples with internal divisions and mounting public pressure.
The province is witnessing the emergence of new faces and fresh rivalries. Sohail Afridi, a young and fiercely loyal member of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has taken over from Ali Amin Gandapur as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Afridi’s appointment came amid widespread discontent within PTI. His predecessor, Ali Amin Gandapur, had lost support among grassroots workers after being accused of failing to pursue Khan’s release from prison with sufficient urgency. Tensions reached a climax in late September when Gandapur faced public humiliation at a rally in Peshawar.
Why Sohail Afridi Replaced Ali Amin Gandapur
On September 27, during a PTI rally in Peshawar, party workers expressed their anger by waving shoes at Ali Amin Gandapur—a gesture of public humiliation in South Asian culture. Within days, party insiders confirmed that Khan had asked him to resign.
The decision to elevate Afridi, a former leader of the party’s student wing, was a strategic one. His close ties to Murad Saeed—one of Khan’s most trusted aides—ensured that the central leadership retained significant influence over the provincial government.
Analysts viewed Afridi’s selection as an attempt to both re-energize the party’s rank-and-file supporters and maintain discipline among increasingly fractious provincial leaders.
“Ali Amin Gandapur wasn’t pursuing Imran Khan’s release with the kind of determination that workers expected. This reached Imran Khan, and to re-energize the party, he nominated Sohail Afridi, a provincial leader of the Insaf Students Federation, as Chief Minister,” a senior party leader told WE News.
He added that while Gandapur had led five major protest marches toward Islamabad in 2024, demanding Khan’s release, he gradually lost grassroots confidence as none of the demonstrations yielded results.
From Gandapur to Afridi: The Power Transition
Sohail Afridi’s leadership style differs markedly from that of his predecessor. Known for his combative tone and populist appeal, he has sought to combine fierce loyalty to Imran Khan with promises of improved governance. His first official meeting after taking office was with the PTI social media team—a symbolic gesture underscoring his belief in the digital wing’s influence over public opinion.
Party insiders describe his immediate focus as twofold: strengthening internal cohesion and amplifying the campaign for Imran Khan’s release. However, some of his advisers have urged caution, warning that another major street confrontation with federal authorities could provoke a harsh response, given the tense relationship between the central government and the province.
After Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation on October 8, Sohail Afridi was nominated as the new Chief Minister. On October 14, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath after Afridi secured a commanding majority of 90 votes in the provincial assembly.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa holds unique political significance for Imran Khan’s movement. It is the only province where PTI still governs, serving as both a political laboratory and a symbol of resilience for the embattled party. The region’s strategic position along the Afghan border and its history of political volatility make Afridi’s role even more consequential.
Observers say the new chief minister must balance populist expectations with the administrative realities of running a province grappling with economic hardship, border insecurity, and strained relations with the federal government.
His ability to maintain unity among PTI’s competing factions while executing effective governance will determine whether this reshuffle stabilizes the party—or deepens its internal discord.
Behind-the-Scenes Pressure
Internal sources within Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said the process of cabinet formation turned into an intense power struggle among rival factions. Former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was reportedly exerting pressure on Sohail Afridi to retain several members of his previous team, while the party’s central leadership in Islamabad also forwarded its own list of preferred names.
Within the province, Junaid Akbar and Atif Khan were lobbying to secure cabinet positions for their loyal assembly members, whereas Asad Qaiser and Shahram Tarakai were seeking to have their brothers included in the new lineup, reflecting the deep-rooted factionalism inside the party.
After the October 30 election of Senator Khurram Zeeshan, speculation mounted that the new cabinet would be announced immediately. Instead, the official notification came in the early hours of October 31, when the Chief Minister’s House confirmed that, following Imran Khan’s instructions, Sohail Afridi had finalized a 13-member provincial cabinet. The lineup consisted of ten ministers, two advisers, and one special assistant.
An internal review revealed that only Muzzammil Aslam, one of the advisers, was unelected, while the remaining twelve members were elected legislators. Ten of them had already served under Ali Amin Gandapur, Riaz Khan had previously been part of Mahmood Khan’s government, and Shafi Jan from Kohat emerged as the sole newcomer.
Party officials indicated that this was an interim arrangement, with plans to expand the cabinet after Afridi meets with Imran Khan. Further adjustments are expected if the party’s founding chairman raises objections to any current appointees.
Internal Rifts and Governance Flaws Plague KP Cabinet
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ten ministers were sworn in at the Governor’s House on October 31, 2025 — nine of them previously served under former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The ceremony followed weeks of political reshuffling and internal tension within the ruling party.
A week before his resignation, Gandapur had reorganized his cabinet, but the move triggered discontent. Two ministers, Aqibullah and Faisal Khan Tarkai, resigned after learning they would be reassigned to different departments. Party insiders said Gandapur believed the two were underperforming and had been appointed mainly due to family connections. The ministers, however, dismissed the claim, suggesting that the reshuffle reflected deeper governance flaws — favoritism, weak institutional discipline, and the absence of merit-based evaluation — issues that have long plagued provincial administrations in Pakistan.
Their resignations underscored a recurring pattern in regional politics: personal influence often outweighs performance, and reshuffles are less about reform than about balancing political loyalties.
The New Chief Minister’s Mission
During his campaign, Sohail Afridi consistently emphasized his unwavering loyalty to Imran Khan, vowing complete obedience to the former prime minister’s directives. His rhetoric positioned him as a staunch defender of Khan’s cause, reflecting the emotional energy that still drives much of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) movement.
Known for his fiery temperament and popularity among the party’s grassroots, Afridi’s first official engagement after assuming office was with PTI’s influential social media team, which he described as the “true engine” behind the party’s communication strategy.
Insiders familiar with that meeting said Afridi’s immediate priority was to intensify efforts for Khan’s release from prison. However, senior digital campaigners cautioned him against direct confrontation with state institutions, reminding him of the violent clashes in Islamabad on November 26, 2024, when PTI supporters faced a severe crackdown. They also advised restraint given the current diplomatic strain between Pakistan and Afghanistan, warning that another aggressive protest movement could escalate tensions further. Afridi reportedly agreed to proceed cautiously and avoid any premature street mobilization until the broader political and regional climate stabilizes.
A New Phase for PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Sohail Afridi’s rise marks both continuity and change for PTI. His elevation represents the enduring influence of Imran Khan over the party’s decisions, even from behind bars. Yet, it also exposes the vulnerabilities of a political movement struggling to convert loyalty into stability.
As Afridi consolidates power in Pakistan’s northwest, his success—or failure—will offer a glimpse into the future of Imran Khan’s political empire. Whether he emerges as a unifying force or another casualty of party infighting may well shape PTI’s trajectory in the months ahead.
