Imran Khan Orders KP CM Gandapur to Resign After Orakzai Attack; PTI Taps Sohail Afridi as Successor
Imran Khan Orders KP CM Gandapur to Resign After Orakzai Attack; PTI Taps Sohail Afridi as Successor
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD — October 9, 2025 (PKT): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has directed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur to step down, nominating PTI lawmaker Sohail Afridi as his replacement amid a sharp uptick in militant violence across the province.
Gandapur submitted his resignation to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi on October 8, saying he was relinquishing the post “on the directives of Imran Khan,” according to The Express Tribune, which also quoted PTI leaders confirming Afridi’s nomination to lead the province. The Express Tribune
The shake-up followed a deadly clash in Orakzai district in the early hours of October 8, when militants linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan confronted security forces during an intelligence-based operation, leaving 11 soldiers and 19 militants dead, per officials and local media reports. The TTP later claimed responsibility. AP News+1
PTI figures said the decision reflects Khan’s dissatisfaction with the deteriorating security environment in KP and his desire for a leadership reset. Afridi, a first-time MPA from PK-70 (Khyber), would be the first chief minister from Khyber district if elected by the provincial assembly, party representatives noted. The Express Tribune
Federal officials, meanwhile, criticized PTI’s move and broader approach to internal security, keeping up months of acrimony between the ruling coalition in Islamabad and Khan’s party. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has repeatedly accused PTI of politicizing security issues in recent statements and media appearances. (No immediate government statement naming Afridi personally was available at press time.) Dawn+1
What’s next
- The KP Assembly must convene to elect a new chief minister. PTI says it will push Afridi’s candidacy through constitutional procedure. The Express Tribune
- Security remains the foremost challenge after the Orakzai attack, part of a broader resurgence of militancy since 2021 along the Afghan border, according to officials and regional reporting. AP News
Reporting by inpk.pk desk. This story will be updated as more official statements and scheduling for the KP Assembly vote are released.