Discontent brews as top leaders and neglected districts denounce lack of representation
PESHAWAR:
Differences within the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged soon after the expansion of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, with several party leaders and legislators expressing strong displeasure at being neglected.
The controversy erupted after Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the expansion of his cabinet. The move came almost a year after the formation of a select cabinet in 2025. Sources said the decision was taken following consultations with the party’s founding chairman, although the meeting with the president did not take place before the announcement.
The expansion included six new ministers, four advisers and eight special assistants. However, the announcement sparked an immediate backlash from party members who felt sidelined.
Abdul Ghani Afridi, a close aide of the chief minister, publicly expressed his displeasure through a verse on social media.
Former governor Shah Farman clarified on social media that no one was included in the cabinet on his recommendation and that he did not put forward any names.
Former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai criticized the exclusion of Shangla district, noting that while the chief minister has the prerogative to choose his cabinet, certain decisions need to be taken keeping the party’s interests in mind. He pointed out that Federal Minister Amir Maqam, Opposition Leader Dr Ebad and Senator Niaz belong to Shangla, questioning whether ignoring the district would disappoint its people.
Several districts appear to have received disproportionate representation, while others have been completely ignored. Malakand, Charsadda and Nowshera got three places each. In contrast, key districts including North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Orakzai, Hangu and Bajaur received no representation despite the presence of several PTI MPAs.
Some districts received multiple places: two each for Kohat, Mardan, Peshawar, Buner, Dir, Haripur and Swabi; and one each from Mohmand, Karak, Lakki Marwat, Abbottabad, Tank and Battagram.
Shakil Khan, a member of former chief minister Mahmood Khan’s cabinet and associated with the Atif Khan group, was reinstated to everyone’s surprise, triggering astonishment within party circles.
Notably, the cabinet largely avoided including non-elected figures; only Muzzmal Aslam would have been an exception.
The cabinet expansion has exposed growing regional and factional fissures within the PTI in KP.
