Imran Khan ousts Gandapur, names Sohail Afridi new K-P CM

CM’s post was a trust from PTI founder, and following his directives, I submit my resignation, says Gandapur

The leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has confirmed that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur will be removed from the office. A decision, in this regard, has been taken by the party founder, Imran Khan. Sohail Afridi has been nominated as Gandapur’s successor.

Speaking to reporters outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the decision had been finalised. “It is true that Ali Amin Gandapur is being removed from the chief ministership. Sohail Afridi has been nominated as the new chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P),” Raja told journalists.

Raja said, Imran Khan has personally explained ‘the detailed background of the matter’ and instructed him to announce the decision publicly.

Addressing the deteriorating security situation in the PTI-ruled province, Raja said K-P was experiencing ‘the worst wave of terrorism’ in recent years. “This year has seen many incidents of terrorism, which claimed precious lives and that is a matter of high concern,” he said, quoting Imran as expressing deep sorrow over the recent Orakzai attack. “Imran Khan said there is no choice left now but to replace the K-P chief minister.”

"وزیراعلی کی پوزیشن عمران خان صاحب کی امانت تھی اور ان کے حکم کے مطابق ان کی امانت ان کو واپس کر کے اپنا استعفی دے رہا ہوں"
علی امین گنڈا پور pic.twitter.com/sOiBXeqeJg

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 8, 2025

After confirmation from Salman Akram Raja, Ali Amin Gandapur resigned from his position.
In his statement, Gandapur said, “The position of chief minister was a trust from the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. In accordance with his instructions, I am returning that trust to him and submitting my resignation.”

Afridi, a lawmaker from Khyber district in the merged tribal areas, was long considered a strong contender for the post. His nomination is seen as part of PTI’s broader efforts to reunify its provincial ranks and strengthen representation from the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Internal rifts within PTI

The development caps months of internal rifts within PTI, particularly between Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan and Gandapur. Party insiders say the feud had escalated to the point of undermining discipline within the K-P government.

In recent weeks, Aleema accused Gandapur of telling Imran Khan that she was attempting to ‘hijack the PTI’ with establishment support — a claim the chief minister countered by alleging a campaign was under way to declare her the party’s next chairperson.

The dispute, combined with tensions over the June passage of the K-P budget, has highlighted fractures in PTI’s provincial leadership. Gandapur faced criticism from senior figures, including Raja and former finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, for pushing the budget through without meeting Imran Khan for final approval — a move he later defended as necessary to avoid governor’s rule.

For now, PTI sources say the leadership is preparing the formal transition process for the chief minister’s post, which will proceed after consultations with Khan inside Adiala Jail.

Who is Sohail Afridi?

PTI nominee for K-P chief minister, Sohail Afridi, hails from Khyber district and is a first-time member of the provincial assembly from PK-70. Afridi will be the first chief minister from Khyber district, marking a significant political milestone for the region since its merger with K-P.

Before his nomination, Afridi served as Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Communication and Works, and was later appointed Provincial Minister for Higher Education in the current cabinet reshuffle.

A long-time PTI activist, Afridi previously headed the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) K-P chapter for several years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and is a businessman by profession.

In the recent general elections, Afridi won from PK-70 by a large margin, defeating PML-N’s Bilawal Afridi, JUI-F’s Hameedullah Jan Afridi, and other candidates.