Sohail Afridi won’t remain KP CM, predicts Sher Afzal Marwat

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Sher Afzal Marwat has predicted that Sohail Afridi will not remain the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, although he said it was unclear who would succeed him.

Speaking to the media at the Peshawar High Court, Marwat criticised the PTI-led provincial government’s legal team and blamed what he described as incompetent law officers for damaging the party’s position in the province.

Marwat said several first information reports (FIRs) had been registered against him following the May 9, 2023, incidents. He alleged that the provincial government had suffered because of the poor performance of its law officers, claiming that their handling of legal matters had contributed to the submission of a challan against Afridi.

“The next chief minister is yet to be determined, but Sohail Afridi will not remain the chief minister,” Marwat said.

Discussing the emergency measures imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the lawmaker said the Constitution did not specify a fixed duration for an emergency. He suggested that governor’s rule might end after two months, while emergency measures could continue in 12 districts of the province.

Marwat also expressed concern over the state of the judiciary, claiming that judges and courts were not functioning independently. He referred to Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani’s resignation, saying the judiciary had lost a capable and hardworking judge.

The PTI lawmaker also advocated the creation of new provinces, saying his party supported the idea. He argued that the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could form a separate province with its own chief minister, provincial assembly and high court.

According to Marwat, the existing administrative system had failed to deliver adequate results for the people of the region. He challenged opponents of the proposal to explain what disadvantages a separate province would bring.

Turning to the PTI’s recent protest movement, Marwat questioned the effectiveness of the party’s long march, claiming that participation had failed to reach even 2,000 people.

He argued that the organisers had not made sufficient efforts to mobilise supporters and said a successful long march required greater planning and public participation. He also maintained that securing access to a political leader and arranging medical facilities should not have been treated as a major national issue.

Marwat said he had previously expressed doubts about the organisers’ commitment to carrying out the march. He blamed YouTubers who were present around the party leadership, alleging that their influence had contributed to PTI’s current difficulties.

He warned that these individuals could further weaken the party if their role and influence remained unchecked.

His remarks highlight continuing disagreements within PTI over the provincial leadership, the handling of legal cases,