Sohail Afridi’s return as KP CM unlikely, says source

ISLAMABAD: The possibility of suspended Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi returning to office has almost disappeared, even if the emergency and governor’s rule imposed in the province are temporary, a senior federal government source has said.

The source told this correspondent that there was virtually no chance of Afridi resuming his position as chief minister. The assessment also ruled out his return after the emergency administration ends, indicating that the federal government does not consider his restoration to office a viable option.

The remarks come after the federal government suspended the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government and placed Afridi and some members of his cabinet in preventive custody. The combination of preventive detention and pending legal proceedings has created considerable uncertainty about his political future.

On October 11, the federal government imposed an emergency and governor’s rule in the province. It argued that the provincial government had failed to effectively combat terrorism. The PTI rejected the move, describing it as politically motivated.

According to the federal source, Afridi’s confrontational political stance, particularly his statements concerning terrorism and state institutions, further damaged his relations with the federal government and the establishment. The source suggested that his return to the chief minister’s office was no longer considered a practical possibility at the federal level.

Several legal challenges have added to the uncertainty surrounding Afridi’s political future. These include cases linked to the violence of May 9, 2023, protests and questions concerning his appointment as chief minister.

The Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled a hearing for October 15 on a petition challenging Afridi’s appointment. The petition was filed by Sher Afzal Marwat, a former PTI leader who has parted ways with the party. It raises questions about the circumstances surrounding former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation and Afridi’s subsequent election.

The petition challenges the legality of the process through which Afridi assumed office. Its outcome could have implications for the legal questions surrounding his appointment.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court is hearing petitions filed by Afridi and other PTI leaders seeking details of cases registered against them and protective bail.

On October 10, the court gave their lawyers a final opportunity to present arguments on the petitions. It scheduled the next hearing for October 20 and warned that no further adjournments would be granted.

Afridi has also been named in a case concerning the vandalism and arson at the Radio Pakistan building in Peshawar during the unrest of May 2023. After reviewing the investigation report, an anti-terrorism court directed the investigating officer to submit a supplementary charge sheet.

In a separate development, the Peshawar High Court dismissed Afridi’s petition challenging action taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan over alleged violations of the electoral code of conduct during the campaign for the Haripur by-election.

The dismissal could have further political implications. However, it does not mean that a final verdict has been delivered on the underlying allegations.

The federal government’s assumption of control in the province, Afridi’s preventive detention and the pending legal proceedings have collectively deepened uncertainty about his political future.

Although the constitutional framework governing the imposition of an emergency and the transfer of provincial powers to the governor is set out in the relevant constitutional provisions, the federal source’s assessment suggests that Afridi’s return remains unlikely even if the current arrangement is not permanent.

The possibility of his reinstatement will depend on political developments, the legal proceedings and any future decisions concerning the emergency and the provincial administration. The federal source’s assessment, however, indicates that the government does not currently expect Afridi to return to the chief minister’s office.