Peshawar, October 15, 2025: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sohail Afridi took oath as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday, following a directive from the Peshawar High Court. The oath was administered by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor House in Peshawar.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by members of the provincial assembly, PTI leaders, and government officials. A large number of PTI workers were also present outside the venue, where sloganeering and minor scuffles were reported during the event.
Sohail Afridi, who was elected from constituency PK-70 (Khyber-II) on a PTI ticket, has previously served as the provincial minister for higher education and as a special assistant to the chief minister for communication and works (C&W). Afridi began his political journey with the Insaf Students Federation, later becoming its provincial president before heading the Insaf Youth Wing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar.
Earlier this week, Peshawar High Court Chief Justice S.M. Atiq Shah had ordered the governor to administer the oath to the newly elected chief minister by 4 p.m. Wednesday, or else the speaker of the assembly would do so. The court’s ruling came after a delay in the formal oath-taking process.
A day before the ceremony, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had instructed Governor Kundi to proceed to Peshawar and comply with the court’s order.
According to PTI sources, the party founder has granted Sohail Afridi full authority to form his cabinet, which will comprise elected representatives and PTI ticket-holders.
Afridi was elected as Chief Minister two days ago with 90 votes in the provincial assembly session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, while opposition parties staged a walkout in protest.
