Ali Amin Gandapur decides to resign as KP Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi to replace him

Ali Amin Gandapur decides to resign as KP Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi to replace him

File photo

October, 8 2025

ISLAMABAD (Web Desk): A major political shift has taken place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province as Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has decided to step down from his post.

According to sources, Gandapur said that “the Chief Minister’s position was a trust given by PTI founder Imran Khan, and now I am returning that trust to him by resigning as per his direction.”

Party insiders revealed that Gandapur has summoned cabinet members to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad to brief them on the current situation. Senior PTI leaders have also begun arriving there for discussions on the leadership transition.

Following Gandapur’s resignation, the 35-member provincial cabinet will automatically stand dissolved under the constitution. The Speaker of the KP Assembly will call a session at the designated time to elect the new Chief Minister.

It has been confirmed that PTI founder Imran Khan has nominated Sohail Khan Afridi as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja officially confirmed Gandapur’s removal and Afridi’s nomination.

Who is Sohail Afridi — the new Chief Minister nominee?

Sohail Afridi has made history as the first Chief Minister nominee from Khyber, one of the tribal districts of the province.

Afridi, born on July 12, 1989, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He entered politics in 2024 and was elected as a Member of the Provincial Assembly from constituency PK-70 (Khyber-II) during the February general elections.

He initially contested as an independent candidate but later joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) after his victory. Afridi was appointed as Special Assistant for Communications and Construction and was later promoted to full minister, taking charge of the Higher Education Department in a recent cabinet reshuffle.

The resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur marks a turning point in PTI’s politics in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Imran Khan’s decision to nominate Sohail Afridi — a young leader from a tribal district — signals a new political strategy focused on grassroots representation and fresh leadership. However, analysts believe this sudden transition could also spark internal power struggles within PTI’s provincial ranks in the coming days.