Who is Sohail Afridi?
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has nominated provincial minister Sohail Afridi as the new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), replacing Ali Amin Gandapur.
Who Is Sohail Afridi?
Sohail Afridi hails from a middle-class family in the Khyber district and belongs to the Shalobar tribe. Known for his grassroots political background, he has been associated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) since his student days through the Insaf Student Federation (ISF), where he served as the former provincial president.
Afridi entered mainstream politics in February 2024, when he was elected to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for the first time from constituency PK-70 (Khyber-II) as an independent candidate.
After his electoral victory, he joined PTI and was appointed as the special assistant to the chief minister for communications and works (C&W). Following a cabinet reshuffle, Afridi was later promoted to full minister status, taking charge of the Higher Education Department.
Educational background
Afridi completed his early education at Muslim Public School, Saddar Peshawar, and obtained his matriculation from the same institution. He later studied at FC Government High School, Peshawar, and earned a BS degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar.
Political background
Known for his close ties with the founder of PTI, Sohail Afridi has emerged as one of the younger, reform-orientated voices within the party.
His performance in the provincial cabinet and reputation for maintaining strong links with his constituency have made him a prominent figure in KP politics.
Despite growing speculation surrounding his potential elevation to the chief minister’s office, Afridi remains cautious and loyal to party leadership, maintaining that he is focused on serving in his current role.
“Under Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s leadership, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is moving in the right direction. Our government is committed to continuing progress and stability in the province,” Afridi said.
In a major political shake-up in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has confirmed that a decision has been made to remove Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from office. The move follows months of internal disputes and growing tensions within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership.
According to credible sources, the political conflict between party founder Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, and CM Ali Amin Gandapur has reached its logical conclusion, prompting the leadership to initiate the process of change at the provincial level.
Confirming the development, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja told the media, “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 following a decision by the PTI founder.”
