Party sources say PTI central leadership suggested forming a core cabinet to ensure continuity of governance
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi speaks during the Assembly session in Peshawar on October 13. Photo: KP Government/File
It has been 12 days since Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s new Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was sworn in, but his cabinet is yet to be announced, leaving the province without a functional government.
CM Afridi asserted that he would 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, the PTI has appointed Sohail Afridi as the new head of the provincial government. Afridi was sworn in on October 15, but despite repeated speculation about potential cabinet members, no official announcement has been made.
Under the Constitution, there is no fixed deadline 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 authorizes the chief minister to temporarily manage administrative affairs in the absence of a cabinet.
In practice, however, the absence of a cabinet has paralyzed routine governance in the province. Most official matters are now handled by the bureaucracy under the supervision of the chief secretary, effectively sidelining elected representatives.
In his maiden speech in the provincial assembly, CM Afridi reaffirmed his loyalty to the PTI founder, saying, “I voted in the name of Imran Khan and will govern according to his vision.” He further said that no cabinet appointments will be finalized until he personally consults with Khan.
According to party sources, the PTI central leadership has suggested forming a core cabinet to ensure continuity of governance. However, Afridi remained firm, saying he would act only after getting advice from the PTI founder. Many attempts have been made to arrange a meeting between Afridi and Imran Khan, including legal efforts to obtain permission from the Islamabad High Court, but the meeting is yet to take place.
During Gandapur’s tenure, the KP had a 32-member cabinet comprising 16 ministers, four advisors and 12 special assistants. The prolonged delay in forming a new cabinet has drawn criticism from the opposition.
Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah expressed astonishment at the government paralysis, saying, “It is shocking that an entire province is being run without a cabinet just because a ‘prisoner’ cannot be consulted. If all instructions go through Imran Khan’s tweets, the cabinet list could also be announced in the same manner. It is tragic that KP has been left without a functioning government for the past two weeks.”
PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja, however, clarified that the party founder had already granted full powers to CM Afridi to form his cabinet. Yet, insiders suggest that Afridi prefers to wait to meet Imran Khan personally before making any major decisions.
Party sources said a meeting between the chief minister and Imran Khan may take place soon. If this happens, the long-awaited composition of the KP cabinet could finally be announced, ending almost two weeks of administrative vacuum in the province.
