Party sources say the PTI central leadership suggested forming a short cabinet to ensure continuity of governance.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi speaks during the assembly session in Peshawar on October 13. Photo: KP Government/File
It has been 12 days since new Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was sworn in, but his cabinet remains unannounced, leaving the province effectively without a functional government.
CM Afridi has maintained that he will not form his cabinet without consulting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.
Following the resignation of former Prime Minister Ali Amin Gandapur earlier this month, the PTI nominated Sohail Afridi as the new leader of the provincial government. Afridi was sworn in on October 15, but despite repeated speculation about potential cabinet members, no formal announcement has been made.
According to the Constitution, there is no fixed deadline for forming a cabinet after the election of a prime minister. Under Article 132, the Prime Minister advises the Governor on ministerial appointments, while Article 133 allows the Prime Minister to temporarily manage administrative affairs in the absence of a Cabinet.
In practice, however, the lack of a cabinet has paralyzed routine government in the province. Most official affairs are now being handled by the bureaucracy under the supervision of the chief secretary, effectively sidelining the elected representatives.
During his maiden speech in the provincial assembly, CM Afridi reaffirmed his loyalty to the PTI founder and declared, “I voted in the name of Imran Khan and will govern according to his vision.” He further stated that cabinet appointments will not be finalized until he personally consults Khan.
According to party sources, the PTI central leadership suggested forming a short cabinet to ensure continuity of governance. However, Afridi stood firm and said he would act only after getting guidance from the PTI founder. Multiple attempts were made to arrange a meeting between Afridi and Imran Khan, including legal efforts to obtain permission through the Islamabad High Court, but the meeting is yet to take place.
During Gandapur’s tenure, KP had a 32-member cabinet comprising 16 ministers, four advisors and 12 special assistants. The prolonged delay in reconstituting a new cabinet has drawn criticism from the opposition.
Expressing shock at the paralysis of the government, Opposition Leader Dr Ibadullah said: “It is shocking that an entire province is governed without a cabinet simply because a ‘prisoner’ cannot be consulted. If all instructions come through Imran Khan’s tweets, the cabinet list could also be announced in the same way. It is tragic that KP has been without a functioning government for two weeks”.
However, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja clarified that the party founder has already given full authority to CM Afridi to form his cabinet. However, insiders suggest that Afridi prefers to wait until he meets Imran Khan in person before making any major decisions.
Party sources indicated that a meeting between the Prime Minister and Imran Khan could take place soon. If that happens, the long-awaited KP cabinet may finally be announced, ending nearly two weeks of administrative limbo in the province.
