Party sources say PTI’s central leadership suggested forming a short cabinet to ensure continuity of governance
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addresses the rally in Peshawar on October 13. Photo: KP government/archive
It has been 12 days since new Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was sworn in, but his cabinet remains unannounced, leaving the province effectively without a functioning government.
CM Afridi has maintained that he will 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 nominated Sohail Afridi as the new head of the provincial government. Afridi was sworn in on 15 October, but despite repeated speculation about potential cabinet members, no formal announcement has been made.
According to the constitution, there is no fixed deadline for forming a cabinet after the election of a chief minister. Under Article 132, the Prime Minister advises the Governor on ministerial appointments, while Article 133 allows the Prime Minister to temporarily manage administrative affairs in the absence of a Cabinet.
In practice, however, the lack of a cabinet has crippled routine governance in the province. Most official affairs are now handled by the bureaucracy under the supervision of the Chief Secretary, effectively sidelining elected representatives.
During his maiden speech in the provincial assembly, CM Afridi reaffirmed his loyalty to the PTI founder and declared, “I took votes in the name of Imran Khan and I will rule according to his vision.” He further stated that no cabinet appointments will be finalized until he personally consults Khan.
According to party sources, PTI’s central leadership suggested forming a short cabinet to ensure continuity of governance. However, Afridi stood firm and said he would act only after getting guidance from the PTI founder. Several attempts were made to arrange a meeting between Afridi and Imran Khan, including legal efforts to secure permission through the Islamabad High Court, but the meeting has yet to take place.
During Gandapur’s tenure, KP had a 32-member cabinet comprising 16 ministers, four advisers and 12 special assistants. The long delay in reconstituting a new cabinet has drawn criticism from the opposition.
Opposition leader Dr. Expressing astonishment at the government’s paralysis, Ibadullah said: “It is shocking that an entire province is being governed without a cabinet simply because a ‘prisoner’ cannot be consulted. If all instructions come through Imran Khan’s tweets, the cabinet list can also be announced in the same way. It has been tragic that KP has been without an operation for two weeks.”
However, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja clarified that the party founder has already given full authority to CM Afridi to form his cabinet. Still, insiders suggest Afridi prefers to wait until he meets Imran Khan in person before taking any major decisions.
Party sources hinted that a meeting between the chief minister and Imran Khan could take place soon. If that happens, the long-awaited KP cabinet may finally be announced, ending almost two weeks of administrative limbo in the province.
