Sohail Afradi elected KP CM despite opposition walkout

By Our Correspondent

PESHAWAR: Amid controversy surrounding outgoing chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation, PTI’s Sohail Afridi on Monday was elected as new chief executive of the province despite opposition’s boycott of the process.

Despite this, the provincial assembly session was convened according to schedule, with the chief minister’s election on the agenda. PTI pick Sohail Afridi, Maulana Lutfur Rehman of the JUI-F, Sardar Shah Jehan Yousaf of the PML-N, and Arbab Zarak Khan of the PPP have filed nomination papers for the election which is currently under way.

A candidate needs to secure at least 73 votes in the 145-strong KP Assembly to win the election.

During the session, Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah held up a copy of the Constitution and said: “According to this Constitution, the procedure is that first your resignation is accepted. Then the administration denotifies the cabinet.”

He said the cabinet had not been denotified and Gandapur’s resignation had not been accepted by the governor.

He also questioned the need for making the issue controversial. “If you already have the numbers, then why not wait a few days and have it be done constitutionally?”