ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister Imran Khan has nominated Sohail Afridi, the provincial minister for higher education, as the new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), replacing Ali Amin Gandapur.

Afridi, a young and dynamic PTI leader from Bara tehsil in Khyber district, is regarded as one of the party’s most ideological and grassroots-based figures, having been associated with PTI since his student days.

Educational background
Afridi received his early education from Muslim Public School, Saddar Peshawar, and completed matriculation from the same institution. He later attended FC Government High School, Peshawar, before earning a BS degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar.

Political journey
Afridi’s political involvement began in 2015, when he was elected president of the Insaf Students Federation (ISF) at the University of Peshawar campus. Over the next few years, he rose through the ranks — first as ISF’s Peshawar region president, then as provincial president of ISF KP, and later as head of the Insaf Youth Wing.

In these roles, Afridi was credited with revitalising PTI’s youth structures and strengthening the party’s organisational presence across the province.

Read More: http://KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur resigns, pledges full support for nominee Afridi

Electoral success
Sohail Afridi entered mainstream politics in the 2024 general elections, contesting from PK-70 (Khyber-II). He won by a wide margin against PML-N’s Bilawal Afridi, marking his arrival as one of PTI’s rising provincial leaders.

Ministerial responsibilities
Following his victory, then-chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur inducted Afridi into his cabinet, initially appointing him as Special Assistant for Communication and Works (C&W). After a cabinet reshuffle, he was elevated to Minister for Higher Education, a post he currently holds.

Active party role
During the political turmoil following the May 9, 2023 incidents, Afridi remained one of the few visible PTI leaders in KP, maintaining communication with party workers and leading youth-led protests demanding Imran Khan’s release. His consistent presence on the ground and engagement through social media helped sustain the party’s narrative during a challenging period.

Personal background
Afridi belongs to a family of six brothers and is the third eldest. Before joining active politics, he worked in the property business.

Party insiders describe him as disciplined, articulate, and fiercely loyal to PTI’s founding vision, qualities that reportedly influenced Imran Khan’s decision to entrust him with the province’s top office.