PESHAWAR: The process to elect a new chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) began today (on Sunday), following the resignation of former CM Ali Amin Gandapur.
According to the Assembly Secretariat, candidates have been asked to submit their nomination papers by 3 PM today at the office of the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly.
Scrutiny of the papers will be conducted under the supervision of the Speaker and is expected to conclude by 4 PM, after which the final list of candidates will be issued at 5 PM. Voting for the new chief minister will take place tomorrow.
Earlier, the election schedule was officially released, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has been summoned on October 13 (Monday) at 10 AM for the voting session. PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja confirmed that Gandapur’s resignation has been received by the Governor’s House and made public by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
Raja clarified that the governor’s approval is not necessary for the resignation to take effect, as the chief minister is only required to notify the governor. He added that it is the governor’s constitutional responsibility to administer the oath to the newly elected chief minister, and if he is unable to do so, the Chief Justice of the Peshawar High Court may nominate another official for the task. He noted that the process has now entered its final phase, with the election scheduled for the next assembly session.
Opposition’s Candidate
While Sohail Afridi has been confirmed as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominee for the chief minister slot, sources suggest that the opposition parties may field a joint candidate to contest the election.
According to reports, Maulana Lutfur Rehman of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) is being considered as the opposition’s potential nominee. Opposition Leader Dr. Ibadullah is also expected to submit his nomination papers, sources added.
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