The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Muhammad Sohail Afridi as Chief Minister, a young politician from Khyber district, as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), replacing Ali Amin Gandapur.
Read More: Supreme Court Grants Imran Khan Bail in Eight May 9 Riot Cases
Born on July 12, 1989, Sohail Afridi represents a new generation of political leadership in Pakistan. Sohail Afridi Education Qualification Bachelor’s degree in Economics and entered active politics during the 2024 general elections as an independent candidate backed by PTI.
Sohail Afridi will assume the charge of the office as the chief minister at the age of 36. Prior to him, Ameer Haider Hoti had assumed the chief minister’s office at the age of 37.
Afridi secured the PK-70 Khyber-II seat with 31,649 votes, defeating Bilawal Afridi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who received 7,401 votes. Since taking oath as a member of the KP Assembly on February 29, 2024, he has gained recognition for his reform-driven and dynamic approach to governance.
In August 2024, Afridi was appointed Special Assistant for Communications and Works, where he focused on infrastructure development and promoting transparency in public projects.
Earlier, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that Ali Amin Gandapur would soon be removed from his position as Chief Minister, citing internal concerns. Party insiders described the decision to nominate Afridi as a unifying move aimed at restoring discipline and cohesion within the provincial setup.
According to sources, PTI founder Imran Khan and the party’s core committee endorsed Afridi as a symbol of renewal and youth-driven governance. His nomination has drawn widespread attention across political circles, as he embodies the aspirations of young leaders emerging from the tribal districts.
If confirmed, Afridi will become one of the youngest chief ministers in Pakistan’s political history.
The leadership change follows weeks of internal disputes within PTI, including serious differences between Ali Amin Gandapur and Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, over party affairs. Both exchanged sharp allegations last week, fueling speculation about a deepening rift in the party’s top ranks.
Tensions further escalated when Aleema Khan accused Gandapur of trying to malign her by linking her to the establishment, allegedly to create divisions within PTI. In response, Gandapur claimed that certain groups were promoting Aleema Khan as PTI’s next chairperson, a move he said could damage party unity.
