Sohail Afridi | |
|---|---|
| سہیل آفریدی | |
 Sohail Afridi in 2025 | |
| Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
| Assumed office 15 October 2025 | |
| Governor | Faisal Karim Kundi |
| Preceded by | Ali Amin Gandapur |
| Special Assistant to theChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Communication & Works | |
| In office 13 October 2024 – 8 October 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Shakeel Ahmad (as Minister) |
| Member of theProvincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |
| Assumed office 29 February 2024 | |
| Constituency | PK-70 Khyber-II |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1989-07-12)12 July 1989 (age 36) |
| Party | PTI (2015-present) |
| Alma mater | University of Peshawar |
Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi[a] (born 1989) is a Pakistani politician fromKhyber District who is theChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 15 October 2025.[1] He has also been serving as a member of theProvincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from constituencyPK-70 Khyber-II since 29 February 2024.[2]
Afridi was born on 12 July 1989 inBara Tehsil, located in theKhyber District ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.[3][4][5] He hails from a middle-class family belonging to the Shalobar tribe and is the third of six brothers.[6] Afridi received his early education and completed his matriculation from Muslim Public School in Peshawar, followed by studies at FC Government High School.[7] He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree inEconomics from theUniversity of Peshawar.[8] During his student years, he was active in theInsaf Student Federation (ISF), where he advocated for education reforms.[9][10] Prior to entering politics full-time, he worked in the property business.[11][4]
Afridi's involvement in politics began during his student years at the University of Peshawar, where he joined the Insaf Students Federation (ISF), the youth wing of PTI, in 2015.[12] He was elected president of the ISF chapter at the university campus that year and later rose to become Peshawar region president in 2017, followed by provincial president of ISF Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[13][14] In this role, he mobilized youth for PTI's campaigns. He advocated for education reforms.[15] Following theMay 9, 2023, riots, Afridi maintained communication with PTI workers while much of the provincial leadership went underground.[16]
He contested the2024 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa election as aPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate fromPK-70 Khyber-II. He secured 31,669 votes while the runner-up wasBilawal Afridi of thePakistan Muslim League (N) who secured 7,549 votes.[17][18] Following his victory, he was appointed as Special Assistant for Communication and Works (C&W) forKhyber Pakhtunkhwa in theGandapur administration.[9][10] In a subsequent cabinet reshuffle, he was promoted to Provincial Minister for Higher Education.[19][20]
AfterAli Amin Gandapur resigned on 8 October 2025 asChief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa onImran Khan's orders,Salman Akram Raja confirmed that Afridi had been named as the next chief minister of the province byImran Khan.[21][9]
On 13 October 2025, Afridi was elected as Chief Minister after securing 90 votes in the 145-strongProvincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while three other candidates of the opposition received none.[22]
A briefpolitical crisis arose due toGovernorFaisal Karim Kundi's refusal to accept Gandapur's resignation. The crisis was ended by thePeshawar High Court (PHC), when it ruled that Gandapur's resignation took effect when he tendered it, and was further confirmed through his speech on the floor of the Provincial Assembly. The court also ordered Governor Kundi to administer the oath of office to Afridi on 15 October 2025. The ruling also stated thatBabar Saleem Swati, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, may administer the oath in case of Kundi fails to do so.[23]
On 15 October 2025, Afridi was administered the oath of office by Governor Kundi at theGovernor’s House, thus beginning his tenure as the province's Chief Minister.[24]
After swearing in as the Chief Minister, Afridi took positions critical of the federal government at the center. He opposed military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.[25] Afridi also criticized the federal government for the resurgence of militancy in the province, blaming it on "flawed policies of the federal government" and delays in releasing war-on-terror funds and constitutional dues. Afridi rejected faulty bulletproof vehicles provided by the Centre, calling them old, substandard, and insulting to the KP police, and ordered their return during his first formal cabinet meeting in Peshawar.[26][27][28] Additionally, he sought to meetImran Khan inAdiala Jail for consultation on formation of cabinet. The prison authorities initially rejected the request. In response, Afridi reportedly moved theIslamabad High Court (IHC) just two days after being sworn in.[29][30] Afridi was prevented from meeting Imran Khan despite an IHC order directing jail authorities to allow such meetings twice a week. His convoy was stopped by the police at theDahgal checkpoint near the facility. In response, the chief minister staged a brief sit-in outside the jail.[31][32]
On 31 October 2025, Afridi announceda 13-member cabinet, comprising 10 provincial ministers, two advisers, and one special assistant, all administered oath by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor's House in Peshawar.[33] Advisers wereMuzzammil Aslam (Finance) andTaj Muhammad (Environment), withShafi Ullah Jan as Special Assistant for Tourism.[34] Afridi delayed the announcement until after attempting to consultImran Khan in Adiala Jail.[35]
During his tenure, Afridi has prioritized peace restoration and development in merged tribal districts.[36] In November 2025, he convened the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Grand Peace Jirga at the Provincial Assembly, where political parties and tribal elders issued a unanimous declaration against militancy, laying groundwork for a provincial peace strategy.[37] He has advocated for enhanced police capabilities, including modern weapons, bulletproof vehicles, and anti-drone technology, while criticizing federal delays in releasing NFC shares and development funds for former FATA areas (estimated at PKR 3,000 billion).[38][39] Afridi inaugurated the 40.8 MW Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir in late 2025 to boost energy infrastructure.[40] He has reiterated that military operations alone cannot eradicate terrorism and emphasized Imran Khan's policies as key to sustainable peace.[41]
In October–November 2025, Afridi staged multiple protests outsideAdiala Jail inRawalpindi to demand a meeting with Imran Khan, despiteIslamabad High Court orders allowing it.[42] On 27 November 2025, police allegedly manhandled him during an overnight sit-in, dragging him by the hair and pushing him to the ground, reportedly on army directions; videos of the incident circulated widely, though authenticity was unverified.[43] Afridi accused authorities of isolating Khan and violating court orders, warning of street protests if unresolved.[44] The federal government considered imposing Governor's Rule in KP amid these tensions and Afridi's calls for protests.[45]
In November 2025, theElection Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notices to Afridi for "irresponsible" remarks during a rally for the NA-18 Haripurby-election, alleging he threatened district administration, police, and ECP staff, violating the Elections Act 2017 and code of conduct.[46][47] Afridi clarified his comments were "taken out of context" and challenged the ECP's jurisdiction inPeshawar High Court, calling the notice "malicious."[48] The ECP sought army deployment for the by-poll due to these concerns.[49]
Afridi has also accused the federal government of staging "fake" terrorist attacks in KP to sabotage peace efforts and advance a political agenda, amid a surge in violence near the Afghan border.[50] In December 2025, he warned against "meddling" by unelected individuals in provincial governance, linking it to institutional failures exacerbating terrorism.[51][52]
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 2025 – present | Incumbent |
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