Afridi puts off KP cabinet expansion pending Imran Khan’s approval

Islamabad: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has delayed the planned expansion of the provincial cabinet and tied any move on the matter to approval from PTI founder Imran Khan, according to party sources.

People familiar with the development said Afridi told the party leadership that no final decision had been made on enlarging the cabinet and that no list of prospective members had been finalised.

The development comes amid internal differences within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf over the induction of new ministers. Earlier reports had suggested that the chief minister had drawn up a list of 12 to 14 possible names for the next phase of cabinet expansion. However, after disagreements emerged within the party and pressure from different leaders increased, he decided to defer the process.

Close to the party, the chief minister has taken the position that the cabinet should be expanded only after consultation with Imran Khan. In that context, Afridi reportedly told senior party leaders:

The names approved by the founding chairman will be included in the cabinet,

During a recent party meeting in Islamabad, party insiders said, Afridi made it clear that no names had yet been finalised for inclusion in the cabinet. He also assured participants that once a decision was reached through consultation, implementation would not be delayed.

The current provincial cabinet took oath in late October 2025 and comprises 13 members, including 10 ministers, two advisers and one special assistant.

Since taking office in mid-October 2025, Afridi has been overseeing a large number of departments himself because of the cabinet’s limited size. He has been holding as many as 16 of the province’s 36 portfolios. The arrangement has increased his direct control over departments, while also underlining the need for cabinet expansion to reduce the administrative load and improve governance.

Internal party considerations

Within PTI circles, the delay is being viewed as a step aimed at avoiding a stronger internal reaction. Party sources said moving ahead without broader consultation and without the founder’s input could have intensified divisions among different groups within the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The issue of cabinet formation and expansion has remained sensitive for PTI in the province, with the party repeatedly stressing consultation with its founder on major provincial matters. The latest delay reflects the balancing act the chief minister is attempting between administrative needs and maintaining party cohesion.