Who is Sohail Afridi, Imran Khan's pick to lead Pakistan's northwestern province?
The 35-year-old is known as a staunch hardliner who rose through PTI's youth wing before entering mainstream politics
Kamran Ali
Correspondent Nukta
Kamran Ali, a seasoned journalist from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, has a decade of experience covering terrorism, human rights, politics, economy, climate change, culture, and sports. With an MS in Media Studies, he has worked across print, radio, TV, and digital media, producing investigative reports and co-hosting shows that highlight critical issues.
Muhammad Sohail Afridi, nominated by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in an official portrait from the provincial government website.
KP Assembly
Afridi replaces Ali Amin Gandapur on orders from former PM Imran Khan
He maintains close ties to Imran Khan's influential sister Aleema Khan
Confirmation uncertain as defections could deny him the majority needed
Pakistan's main opposition party has nominated provincial lawmaker Sohail Afridi to replace Ali Amin Gandapur as chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, elevating a relatively junior politician known for his hardline stance and loyalty to jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, whose Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party rules the northwestern province bordering Afghanistan.
The PTI announced Afridi's nomination Wednesday after Khan ordered Gandapur's removal during a court hearing at Adiala jail, where the former cricket star is detained on corruption charges. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed the decision.
The announcement sparked initial confusion within party ranks, with some media outlets incorrectly reporting that PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar had dismissed the news as fake. Gohar later clarified he made no such statement.
Who is Sohail Afridi?
Afridi, 35, represents Khyber district in the provincial assembly, winning his seat by a margin of more than 24,000 votes in the 2024 general elections. He rose through PTI's youth wing, the Insaf Students Federation, before entering mainstream politics.
Until recently, Afridi served as minister for higher education, a position he received just weeks ago after an earlier role as special assistant to the chief minister for communications and works. His rapid elevation reflects his standing within party circles as a trusted Khan loyalist.
Anti-establishment stance
According to PTI insiders, Afridi maintains close ties to Aleema Khan, the former prime minister's influential sister. Party sources describe him as a staunch hardliner with a strong anti-establishment stance.
However, Afridi's path to formally assuming office remains uncertain. Some PTI lawmakers may break away from the party under pressure, potentially denying him the simple majority of 59 seats needed for confirmation in the 115-member provincial assembly. Such defections could force PTI into coalition negotiations or leave the province in political limbo.
Legal troubles
Moreover, Afridi faces legal challenges that could complicate his nomination. The FIA's Cyber Crime Circle in Peshawar initiated an inquiry against him in February for allegedly engaging in "negative rhetoric online" against state institutions and bureaucracy. A notice dated Feb. 10 summoned him to appear before investigators, warning that statements "likely to cause fear or alarm in the public" could incite offenses against the state or public order.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has remained PTI's stronghold even as the party lost power nationally following Khan's ouster in 2022.
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