PESHAWAR ; Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) candidate Sohail Afridi has been elected as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, securing 90 votes.
The session of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly began under the chairmanship of Speaker Babar Saleem Swati.
It may be noted that resignation of former KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur was rejected by Governor KP Faisal Karim Kundi.
When former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur arrived in the assembly, government members stood up to welcome him.
“We want the rule of law in the country,” said Ali Amin Gandapur while addressing the assembly. He congratulated Sohail Afridi in advance and stated that a government only succeeds when it is strong.
Gandapur said that when his government took charge, only fifteen days’ worth of salaries were available. “The opposition may complain about not receiving development funds, but I allocated funds to your constituencies,” he added. He also recalled that the founder of PTI has always said he puts Pakistan before himself.
He further stated that wherever Muslims are oppressed in the world, PTI stands with them. “Our struggle for the people of Pakistan and this province will continue. Perhaps Allah placed me here to vindicate me. When one proves loyalty and honor, one earns a respected place in the world,” he remarked.
Concluding his speech, Gandapur said the founder of PTI is making sacrifices for the nation. “We stand firmly with our founder and will continue to do so. He is fighting for the future of our children,” he affirmed.
Opposition walks out
The oposition in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly walked out soon after session started on Monday to elect new chief minister after former leader of the house Ali Amin Gandapur resigned.
The session was due to start early morning with voting scheduled at 10:00 am through “show of hands.”
Four candidates were in the run, including PTI’s Sohail Afridi who was nominated by the party chief, Imran Khan. The nomination papers of all candidates have been approved. Other contenders included Maulana Lutfur Rehman from JUI, Arbab Zark from the PPP, and Sardar Shah Jehan from the PML-N.
Opposition Leader Dr Ibad Ullah was out of the race, as opposition parties failed to agree on a single candidate.
Meanwhile, PTI has become active in an effort to have its candidate elected “unopposed, and has reached out to the PML-N and the ANP for support.
A PTI delegation held meetings with Federal Minister Amir Muqam and ANP leaders. Both parties said they would consult with their central leadership before making any commitments.
The total number of members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly is 145; and 73 votes are required to elect chief minister. The number of independents supported by the PTI is 92, while opposition members number 53.
Sohail Afridi’s speech
After being elected as CM, Sohail Afridi said that if his leader Imran Khan opposes military operations, then he too stands completely against them. “Military operations are not the solution to terrorism; the world is moving toward negotiations,” he said.
Addressing the assembly, he expressed gratitude to his leader — Pakistan’s most popular leader — and said he came from a humble, middle-class background with no family members in politics. He noted that his name does not carry the weight of a Zardari or Bhutto; he reached this position through his own efforts.
He thanked his leader for the opportunity and reminded the house that he is from the tribal areas and considers himself first and foremost a Pakistani.
Afridi criticized a mindset that keeps tribal people behind, saying that for 78 years this mindset has governed them. He praised his chairman for recognising the historic marginalization of the tribes and for giving opportunities to those who work hard rather than to those who merely carry famous names.
He also thanked social media and the media representatives who, he said, risked their jobs in pursuit of truth. He paid tribute to the late Arshad Sharif for sacrificing his life for the cause of truth.
He lauded Ali Amin Gandapur for resigning in unison with the party leader and for the way he announced it in the assembly. Afridi dismissed critics who belittle tribal people, saying their own affairs are in disrepair.
He declared his devotion to the chairman: “I am your admirer; people do politics, but I am in love with you.”
Promising to act for the chairman’s cause, Afridi said KP belongs to the chairman and vowed to begin steps immediately to secure his release. He pledged to work for the chairman’s wife — who is not involved in politics — and promised to take actions that had not previously been taken to win the chairman’s freedom.
“I am a champion of protest politics for the chairman because I have nothing to lose — no cars, nothing else. I will use this chair to kick for my leader,” he said.
Afridi warned that if the chairman is moved from his jail without his family’s consent, he would paralyze all of Pakistan. He claimed his leader sought peace and democracy, but his government was toppled over the refusal to recognise Israel.
