Political tension peaks as KP Assembly votes for new CM.

By Muhammad MubashirPublished On 13 Oct 2025

Peshawar: The assembly session is underway to elect the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session has begun under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati. Addressing the session, Ali Amin Gandapur said that the day Imran Khan asked him to resign, he did so, following the instructions of his leader. The democratic process should not be made a mockery. We will not tolerate what has been happening.

Ali Amin Gandapur stated that everything we did in 19 months is on record. When we got the power, we had only 18 days' salary. Today, there is Rs218 billion in the provincial treasury. The opposition will complain to me that I did not give them funds, but the people are happy because I invested money in the people.

He added that the founder of PTI is sacrificing for us and for our generations. We stand firm with PTI.

Opposition boycotts of assembly session

Opposition Leader KP Dr Ibadullah, while addressing, said that Ali Amin Gandapur's resignation has not been accepted yet. When one Chief Minister is in power, another cannot be elected.

Dr. Ibadullah said that the Governor has called Ali Amin Gandapur so that the ambiguity can be removed. Why are our friends in such a hurry? They have full numbers, so why are they making this matter controversial. This process is illegal, we will not be a part of this.

After the opposition leader's speech, the Speaker of the KP Assembly said that some people want Sohail Afridi not to become the Chief Minister, but the constitution cannot be based on the wishes of the people, they will follow the constitution.

It is pertinent to note that four candidates are in the fray for the election of the new Leader of the House. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Sohail Afridi for the Chief Ministership, and Jamat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has nominated Maulana Lutfur Rehman for the Chief Ministership.

Sardar Shah Jahan Yousuf is the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) nominee for the Chief Ministership, and Arbab Zarak Khan is the nominee of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The total number of members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is 145, out of which 93 are government members and 52 are opposition members.

73 votes will be required to be elected Leader of the House, and consultations are underway to bring a joint candidate from the opposition parties.

On the other hand, PTI has administered oath to its candidates and yesterday, PTI KP President Junaid Akbar had clearly said that whoever betrays the founder PTI’s nominated candidate, the people of the province will make it difficult for him to leave his house and the land will be narrowed for him.

It is pertinent to note that Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi has sent back the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur with the objection of different signatures and has summoned him personally to the Governor House on October 15.