Party sources say PTI’s central leadership suggested forming short cabinet to ensure governance continuity
Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, speaks during assembly session in Peshawar on October 13. Photo: K-P government/File
It has been 12 days since new Chief Minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi took oath of the office, yet his cabinet remains unannounced, leaving the province effectively without a functional government.
CM Afridi has maintained that he will not form his cabinet without consulting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Following the resignation of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur earlier this month, PTI nominated Sohail Afridi as the new leader of the provincial government. Afridi was sworn in on October 15, but despite repeated speculation about potential cabinet members, no formal announcement has been made.
Under the Constitution, there is no fixed time limit for forming a cabinet after the election of a chief minister. According to Article 132, the chief minister advises the governor on ministerial appointments, while Article 133 allows the chief minister to temporarily manage administrative affairs in the absence of a cabinet.
In practice, however, the lack of a cabinet has paralysed routine governance in the province. Most official matters are now being handled by the bureaucracy under the supervision of the chief secretary, effectively sidelining elected representatives.
During his maiden speech in the provincial assembly, CM Afridi reaffirmed his loyalty to the PTI founder, declaring, “I took votes in Imran Khan’s name, and I will govern according to his vision.” He further stated that no cabinet appointments will be finalised until he personally consults Khan.
According to party sources, PTI’s central leadership suggested forming a short cabinet to ensure governance continuity. However, Afridi stood firm, saying he would only act after obtaining guidance from the PTI founder. Multiple attempts were made to arrange a meeting between Afridi and Imran Khan, including legal efforts to secure permission through the Islamabad High Court, but the meeting has yet to take place.
During Gandapur’s tenure, K-P had a 32-member cabinet comprising 16 ministers, four advisers, and 12 special assistants. The prolonged delay in reconstituting a new cabinet has drawn criticism from the opposition.
Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah expressed astonishment at the government’s paralysis, saying, “It is shocking that an entire province is being run without a cabinet simply because a ‘prisoner’ cannot be consulted. If all instructions are coming through Imran Khan’s tweets, the cabinet list could also be announced the same way. It’s tragic that K-P has been without an operational government for two weeks.”
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, however, clarified that the party founder has already granted full authority to CM Afridi to form his cabinet. Yet, insiders suggest Afridi prefers to wait until he meets Imran Khan personally before taking any major decisions.
Party sources indicated that a meeting between the chief minister and Imran Khan could take place soon. If that happens, the long-awaited K-P cabinet may finally be announced, ending nearly two weeks of administrative limbo in the province.
