PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday dismissed speculation about a possible change in the provincial government, stating that he would continue to serve in his position unless directed otherwise by PTI founder Imran Khan.
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Speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi, Afridi said the PTI founder had previously expressed confidence in his leadership and made it clear that no one could remove him from the chief minister’s office while he remained the party’s choice.
Quoting Imran Khan, the chief minister said, “If Sohail Afridi is the chief minister, no power in the world can replace him.” He added that he would continue in office until receiving a new directive from the jailed PTI founder.
Afridi’s remarks come amid reports of growing political tensions within PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter. According to media reports, a group of nearly 30 PTI lawmakers did not attend a parliamentary meeting convened by the chief minister, fueling speculation about the emergence of a forward bloc within the party.
However, the chief minister rejected such reports, describing them as propaganda aimed at creating divisions within PTI. He maintained that only Imran Khan had the authority to decide the future of the provincial government.
Afridi also called for Khan to be transferred to Shifa International Hospital for medical treatment and urged authorities to allow family members access to the former prime minister.
On provincial finances, the chief minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet had approved budget documents and would soon present a people-friendly budget focused on health, education, agriculture, youth development and forestry.
Meanwhile, PTI has formed a six-member committee to address internal differences and improve coordination between the party’s parliamentary members and the provincial government.
The committee will be headed by Asad Qaiser and includes senior party leaders, among them Babar Saleem Swati and Ali Asghar Khan. The panel has been tasked with strengthening communication and restoring unity within the party’s provincial structure.
Party officials said the committee would work to bridge gaps between lawmakers, the parliamentary party and the provincial administration in an effort to ease internal tensions and maintain organizational cohesion.
