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Who is Sohail Afridi- KP’s new Chief Minister

Sohail Afridi, the designated Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hails from Khyber district

By: Waheedullah

PESHAWAR: Sohail Afridi, the designated Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hails from Khyber district.

He was elected to the provincial assembly for the first time from the PK-70 constituency. Muhammad Sohail Afridi has a long history with the Insaf Students Federation, having served as its KP president for an extended period.

In 2011, Afridi became the president of the Insaf Students Federation in Peshawar district. By 2014, he was elected the provincial president of the federation. He has also held significant roles within the youth wing of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and has been a member of the PTI’s central executive committee.

In the current government, Afridi served as the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Communication and Works. Following a cabinet reshuffle, he was appointed Minister for Higher Education.

What Challenges Will Sohail Afridi Face as Chief Minister?

Sohail Afridi will encounter several challenges as he steps into his role as Chief Minister. There are existing divisions within the PTI regarding the leadership of Ali Amin Gandapur. Afridi will need to work on unifying the different factions of the party and restoring confidence in its leadership.

Moreover, opposition parties, particularly Jamaat-e-Islami, Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), will likely attempt to portray him as a weak Chief Minister.

It is important to note that Imran Khan has removed Ali Amin Gandapur from the Chief Minister position and appointed Sohail Afridi as his successor.