Political activity has intensified in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the resignation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, as efforts are underway to elect a new provincial chief executive.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Suhail Afridi as its candidate for chief minister, but what looks to be a straightforward decision on the surface is, in reality, a complex political challenge.

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has received Gandapur’s resignation, and he is expected to summon a session of the provincial assembly to formally dissolve the current government and initiate the process for electing a new chief minister.

Numbers game

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has 124 members, and a candidate needs at least 73 votes to become chief minister.

While PTI holds 92 seats, 35 of its members are classified as independents — meaning they are not bound by the party’s directives.

Reports also suggest that 22 members have submitted separate affidavits, signalling growing internal divisions within the party.

On the other hand, the opposition commands 53 seats. If it manages to secure just 20 additional votes, the balance of power could shift dramatically.

Opposition parties, led by Leader of the Opposition Dr Ibadullah, have already convened an emergency meeting to finalise a consensus candidate for the chief minister’s post.

Afridi starts meeting key figures

PTI’s nominee for chief minister, Suhail Afridi, has stepped up his political outreach, holding a series of meetings over the past 24 hours with Speaker Babar Saleem, cabinet members, and senior party figures.

The party’s top leadership is working to rally its members behind Afridi, hoping to avoid any internal dissent or vote split when the assembly convenes.

At the same time, the opposition has intensified its own efforts, reaching out to independent lawmakers in a bid to form a broader alliance that could upset PTI’s majority in the house.

Political observers say the support of independents could prove decisive, potentially reshaping the province’s power dynamics.

Afridi faces uphill task

With visible cracks within PTI, uncertainty over independent members’ loyalties, and an increasingly coordinated opposition, the battle for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s top office remains wide open.