Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Sohail Khan Afridi has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after securing 90 votes, well above the 73 required for a simple majority. He achieved a comfortable victory over his rivals — Maulana Lutf-ur-Rehman of JUI-F, Arbab Zarak of the PPP, and Sardar Shahjehan of the PML-N.

The provincial assembly session, held on Monday under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, turned highly chaotic and heated. During the election for the new leader of the house, former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, assembly members, and opposition lawmakers exchanged harsh words. Gandapur addressed the house and congratulated Sohail Afridi in advance on his expected victory.

Meanwhile, the opposition staged a walkout, declaring the election process unconstitutional. Opposition member Dr. Ibadullah questioned the move, asking, “If Ali Amin Gandapur’s performance was satisfactory, why was he removed?” He argued that holding a new election while the sitting Chief Minister was still in office was a violation of the constitution.

At the same time, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi returned Gandapur’s resignation, citing discrepancies in signatures, and summoned him to the Governor House on October 15. However, Gandapur maintained on social media that both submitted resignations carried his verified signatures.

According to sources, some political groups are planning to challenge the election in court, arguing that the vote was conducted while the previous Chief Minister’s resignation had not been accepted. PTI leaders, meanwhile, have held consultations with Federal Minister Amir Maqam and the ANP leadership to seek cooperation in stabilizing the political situation. Governor Kundi assured that the resignation issue would be handled strictly in line with the Constitution and the law.