JUI-F Challenges Sohail Afridi’s KP Chief Minister Election

PESHAWAR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) has questioned the legality of Sohail Afridi’s election as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The challenge came shortly after Afridi was elected on Tuesday.

Sohail Afridi, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate, won the KP Assembly vote with 90 votes. Opposition parties boycotted the election, and their candidates—including Maulana Lutfur Rehman of JUI-F—received no votes.

The opposition’s boycott followed objections raised by KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi concerning the resignation of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. The Governor claimed the resignation had not been properly accepted.

JUI-F’s Maulana Lutfur Rehman filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court, stating that since Gandapur’s resignation remains unaccepted, Afridi’s election is unconstitutional and invalid. He urged that Gandapur’s resignation be formally accepted before holding any new election.

Reports indicate the Governor’s office received two resignation letters from Gandapur, but both contained inconsistent signatures. Due to this, Governor Kundi has summoned Gandapur to the Governor’s House on October 15 at 3 p.m. to verify the authenticity of the resignations.

The Governor has assured that the issue will be resolved strictly according to the Constitution of Pakistan.