Muhammad Sohail Afridi

Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi (; ; born 12 July 1989) is a Pakistani politician from Khyber District who is the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since 15 October 2025. He has also been serving as a member of the Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from constituency PK-70 Khyber-II since 29 February 2024.

Early life and education Afridi was born on 12 July 1989 in Bara Tehsil, located in the Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. He hails from a middle-class Pashtun family belonging to the Afridi (Shalobar) tribe and is the third of six brothers. Afridi received his early education and completed his matriculation from Muslim Public School in Peshawar, followed by studies at FC Government High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Economics from the University of Peshawar. During his student years, he was active in the Insaf Student Federation (ISF), where he advocated for education reforms. Prior to entering politics full-time, he worked in the property business. Following his victory, he was appointed as Special Assistant for Communication and Works (C&W) for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Gandapur administration.

Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (2025–present)

After Ali Amin Gandapur resigned on 8 October 2025 as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Imran Khan's orders, Salman Akram Raja confirmed that Afridi had been named as the next chief minister of the province by Imran Khan.

A brief political crisis arose due to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi's refusal to accept Gandapur's resignation. The crisis was ended by the Peshawar High Court (PHC), when it ruled that Gandapur's resignation took effect when he tendered it, and was further confirmed through his speech on the floor of the Provincial Assembly. The court also ordered Governor Kundi to administer the oath of office to Afridi on 15 October 2025. The ruling also stated that Babar Saleem Swati, the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, may administer the oath in case of Kundi fails to do so.

On 15 October 2025, Afridi was administered the oath of office by Governor Kundi at the Governor's House, thus beginning his tenure as the province's Chief Minister.

After swearing in as the Chief Minister, Afridi took positions critical of the federal government at the center. He opposed military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Afridi also criticized the federal government for the resurgence of militancy in the province, blaming it on "flawed policies of the federal government" and delays in releasing war-on-terror funds and constitutional dues. Afridi rejected faulty bulletproof vehicles provided by the centre, calling them old, substandard, and insulting to the KP police, and ordered their return during his first formal cabinet meeting in Peshawar. Additionally, he sought to meet Imran Khan in Adiala Jail for consultation on formation of cabinet. The prison authorities initially rejected the request. In response, Afridi reportedly moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) just two days after being sworn in. Afridi was prevented from meeting Imran Khan despite an IHC order directing jail authorities to allow such meetings twice a week. His convoy was stopped by the police at the Dahgal checkpoint near the facility. In response, the chief minister staged a brief sit-in outside the jail.

On 31 October 2025, Afridi announced a 13-member cabinet, comprising 10 provincial ministers, two advisers, and one special assistant, all administered oath by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi at the Governor's House in Peshawar. Advisers were Muzzammil Aslam (Finance) and Taj Muhammad (Environment), with Shafi Ullah Jan as Special Assistant for Tourism. In November 2025, he convened the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Grand Peace Jirga at the Provincial Assembly, where political parties and tribal elders issued a unanimous declaration against militancy, laying groundwork for a provincial peace strategy. Afridi inaugurated the 40.8 MW Koto Hydropower Project in Lower Dir in late 2025 to boost energy infrastructure. He has reiterated that military operations alone cannot eradicate terrorism and emphasized Imran Khan's policies as key to sustainable peace. On 27 November 2025, police allegedly manhandled him during an overnight sit-in, dragging him by the hair and pushing him to the ground, reportedly on army directions; videos of the incident circulated widely, though authenticity was unverified. Afridi accused authorities of isolating Khan and violating court orders, warning of street protests if unresolved. The federal government considered imposing Governor's Rule in KP amid these tensions and Afridi's calls for protests.

In November 2025, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued notices to Afridi for "irresponsible" remarks during a rally for the NA-18 Haripur by-election, alleging he threatened district administration, police, and ECP staff, violating the Elections Act 2017 and code of conduct. Afridi clarified his comments were "taken out of context" and challenged the ECP's jurisdiction in Peshawar High Court, calling the notice "malicious." The ECP sought army deployment for the by-poll due to these concerns. In December 2025, he warned against "meddling" by unelected individuals in provincial governance, linking it to institutional failures exacerbating terrorism.