Peshawar: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the Additional Advocate General to confirm the availability of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to administer the oath to the newly elected Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Court Urges Swift Oath-Taking Process
The directive came during a hearing on a petition filed under Article 255 of the Constitution by members of the provincial assembly, including the KP Assembly Speaker, seeking the immediate swearing-in of the new chief executive.
The petition also requested the court to nominate an alternative authority, such as the speaker or another official, to perform the oath-taking ceremony if the governor remains unavailable.
The PHC ordered the Additional Advocate General to update the court before 1 p.m. today, emphasizing the urgency of the matter. A written order from the previous hearing was also issued, underscoring the need to resolve the political impasse swiftly.
Petition Filed After Afridi’s Election
The legal proceedings were initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) shortly after Sohail Afridi was elected KP Chief Minister on Monday. Afridi secured 90 votes in the provincial assembly session, while opposition parties boycotted the election.
His rivals, including JUI-F’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman, PML-N’s Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf, and PPP’s Arbab Zarak Khan, did not receive any votes as their parties staged a walkout in protest.
Governor’s Rejection of Gandapur’s Resignation Sparks Controversy
Afridi’s election follows the resignation of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on October 8, in compliance with PTI founder Imran Khan’s directive. However, the transition became controversial when Governor Kundi rejected Gandapur’s resignation, citing doubts over the authenticity of his signature. The move has cast uncertainty over the legitimacy of the power transfer.
PTI Accuses Governor of Delaying Oath
Speaking to the media outside the court, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja criticized the governor for deliberately delaying the oath-taking process. He argued that the Constitution empowers the Chief Justice to nominate an official to administer the oath in the governor’s absence. Raja warned that the province could not afford a governance vacuum amid political instability.
Afridi Faces Political Challenges Ahead
Sohail Afridi, a relatively new entrant in KP politics, began his political career in 2015 and was elected Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) in the 2024 general elections.
His appointment, however, has drawn criticism from the federal government, which accused PTI of harbouring sympathies with extremist elements—allegations the party has strongly denied.
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