KP Assembly summoned to elect new provincial chief executive on Oct 13

• Speaker invokes Rule 31(b) to convene Assembly’s session earlier following Gandapur’s resignation
• PTI names Sohail Afridi as nominee for CM, vows continuity with fresh energy
• Legal experts affirm Assembly’s power to elect new leader without governor’s approval
• PTI delegation reaches out to JUI, ANP, PPP for coalition support ahead of Monday’s vote
• Junaid Akbar warns against horse-trading; says PTI will defend its majority in KP

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has been summoned to meet at 10:00 a.m. on October 13 to elect a new chief minister following the resignation of Ali Amin Gandapur, who stepped down earlier this week on the instructions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

According to an official notification issued by the Assembly Secretariat, the sitting, which was originally scheduled for October 20 at 2:00 p.m., has been brought forward by a week. The decision was taken under Rule 31(b) of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules, 2025, empowering the Speaker to alter the date of an already-summoned session.

خیبر پختونخوا اسمبلی کا اجلاس پیر 13 اکتوبر کو صبح 10 بجے طلب کرلیا گیا ہے. pic.twitter.com/U1GvuPnv7u

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 11, 2025

“Mr Speaker, while exercising the powers conferred upon him under paragraph (b) of Rule 31, has called the sitting of the Assembly on Monday, October 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., which was earlier called for Monday, October 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.,” the notification read.

Gandapur’s resignation and legal clarity

Earlier, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that the KP Assembly would convene on Monday to elect a new Leader of the House, following the resignation of outgoing Chief Minister Gandapur. Addressing a press conference alongside provincial law minister Aftab Alam Afridi at the K-P Assembly’s Jirga Hall, Raja explained that under Article 130(8) of the Constitution, the chief minister’s resignation takes effect immediately upon submission.

“There is no requirement for approval or notification,” Raja clarified, adding that the governor’s consent is not constitutionally required because the chief minister is not a subordinate officer of the governor. He further noted that Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had already acknowledged receipt of Gandapur’s resignation both in an official statement and a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Today at 2:30 pm, the handwritten resignation advice of the CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was duly received and acknowledged by Governor House.
After thorough scrutiny and legal formalities as per the Constitution & relevant laws, subject resignation will be processed in due course of… pic.twitter.com/wD9phdWUIQ

— Faisal Karim Kundi (@fkkundi) October 11, 2025

Raja maintained that the process for electing a new chief minister would proceed smoothly, emphasizing that PTI’s internal transition reflected the party’s commitment to stability and constitutional procedure in the province.

Experts: Assembly empowered to elect new CM

Legal experts endorsed the PTI’s interpretation. Constitutional lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii said the provincial assembly holds full authority to elect a new chief minister immediately after the resignation of an incumbent.

“Once the CM submits his resignation, the house can elect another CM. The governor cannot make him wait for acceptance of his resignation,” Jaferii explained, adding that the outgoing chief minister may continue to discharge official duties until a new one takes oath.

PTI names Sohail Afridi as new CM nominee

At the press conference, Raja formally announced Sohail Afridi as PTI’s candidate for chief minister, describing him as “a determined and energetic young leader who will move the province forward with new spirit and resolve.”

He added that Afridi would form a new provincial cabinet that would combine continuity with new faces, reflecting PTI founder Imran Khan’s vision for “good governance, accountability, and stability” in the province. Raja reiterated PTI’s zero-tolerance stance toward terrorism, saying, “We have no sympathy for terrorists. Our only prayer is for an end to bloodshed and violence in this province.”

PTI seeks coalition support from JUI, ANP, PPP

In a major political outreach ahead of the CM election, the PTI has initiated contact with other parties, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), the Awami National Party (ANP), and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to secure support for its nominee. A PTI delegation—led by Provincial President Junaid Akbar and including Irfan Saleem and other senior leaders—visited the JUI central office in Peshawar to discuss cooperation for the upcoming vote.

The delegation was received by JUI Provincial General Secretary Senator Maulana Attaul Haq Darvesh, Maulana Jaleel Jan, and other senior members. During the meeting, PTI leaders sought JUI’s support for Sohail Afridi in the upcoming assembly session.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly session to be held on October 13 at 10 AM.
Agenda: Election of the Chief Minister.#KPKAssembly #ElectionOfCM#PTI #ImranKhan #KPAssemblyupdates #speakerkpassembly pic.twitter.com/cco22vFHwh

— Babar Saleem Swati (@BabarSaleemSwat) October 11, 2025

Speaking to reporters afterward, JUI leader Maulana Atta-ur-Rehman appreciated PTI’s gesture of dialogue and said his party would hold internal consultations before deciding its stance.

PTI’s Junaid Akbar told media that the party aimed to “unite the province and build consensus for stability,” adding that PTI’s outreach was not just about numbers but about forming “a government that can deliver for the people.” He revealed that PTI leaders would also visit Bacha Khan Markaz, ANP’s headquarters, as part of broader efforts to foster political harmony.

Warning against horse-trading

Junaid Akbar, however, expressed concern over “attempts to lure PTI members with incentives,” warning that the party would protect its majority. “If efforts are made to dismantle our government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, we will make it difficult for the federal government to function,” he cautioned.

With the election set for Monday, October 13, the PTI leadership appears confident of maintaining its dominance in the provincial assembly, even as the political temperature in Peshawar rises over the selection of the new Leader of the House.