Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Saturday said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has received the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, clearing the path for the election of a new chief minister on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference at the KP Assembly alongside Advocate General Shah Faisal and Law Minister Aftab Alam, Raja said the Governor House has officially acknowledged receipt of Gandapur’s handwritten resignation.
He reiterated that under Article 130 of the Constitution, a chief minister’s resignation takes immediate effect and that the governor has no discretionary authority once the resignation is tendered.
Raja announced that the KP Assembly will convene on Monday at 11:00am to elect a new chief minister, naming Sohail Afridi as PTI’s nominee. “Sohail Afridi will be the first chief minister from the tribal areas,” Raja said, adding that the province would benefit from renewed energy and inclusivity under his leadership.
He said the new provincial cabinet would include both experienced faces and new entrants, in line with party directives.
Law Minister Aftab Alam stressed that the resignation was sufficient under constitutional provisions and described the governor’s acknowledgement as a procedural formality.
Advocate General Shah Faisal confirmed that legal processes would be followed to ensure a smooth transition, and an orderly vote in the assembly would determine the next leader.
The Assembly Secretariat has issued an official notification summoning members for the Monday morning session, with the election of the chief minister listed as the primary agenda item. PTI leaders said they were confident of securing the required majority to elect their nominee.
If elected, Afridi’s appointment would mark a historic milestone for the province, reflecting broader political shifts and the party’s outreach to the tribal districts. Political observers will watch proceedings closely amid heightened public interest.
