Peshawar— The process of filing nomination papers for the election of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s new Chief Minister has concluded, with four candidates formally entering the race. The final list of candidates is expected to be released later this evening.
According to News, PTI has nominated Suhail Afridi, while Arbab Zark from the Pakistan Peoples Party, Sardar Jehan of the PML-N, and Maulana Lutfur Rehman from JUI-F have also submitted their nomination papers.
The KP Assembly is scheduled to convene tomorrow at 10:00 AM to elect the new leader of the house. The voting will be conducted through a show of hands. With the support of 90 independent members, PTI appears to have a clear advantage. A total of 73 votes are required for a simple majority to secure the chief ministership.
The leadership change follows the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur, who stepped down on October 11, stating that he was relinquishing his position on the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The Governor House confirmed receipt of Gandapur’s resignation, stating that it would be reviewed according to constitutional procedures, and all steps would be taken transparently.
Who is Suhail Afridi?
PTI’s nominee Suhail Afridi hails from the Khyber district and is a former provincial president of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF). He was elected as a member of the provincial assembly in the 2024 general elections — his first time in the legislature.
Afridi previously served as Special Assistant on Communications in Gandapur’s cabinet, and was recently promoted to Provincial Minister for Higher Education. He is also a member of PTI’s Central Executive Committee.
