PESHAWAR: PTI’s Sohail Afridi has been elected as Chief Minister despite opposition’s boycott amid controversy regarding outgoing chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation.
Amid controversy surrounding outgoing chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation, PTI’s Sohail Afridi on Monday was elected as new chief executive of the province despite the opposition’s boycott of the process.
Sohail Afridi secured 90 votes, whereas Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl’s (JUI-F) Maulana Lutfur Rehman, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf and Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP) Arbab Zarak Khan got no votes at all as their members staged a walkout from the session.
The assembly session, chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, was boycotted by the opposition members who staged a walk out with opposition leader Dr Ibadullah Khan saying that they do not want to be part of any “unlawful” process.
CM KP election to be unconstitutional: Opposition Leader
Opposition Leader in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, Dr. Ibadullah said that election of Chief Minister will be unconstitutional today as Ali Amin Gandapur resignation was not accepted by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor yet.
In his address at KP Assembly floor, Dr Ibadullah said that Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation has not yet been accepted by Governor and therefore a new Chief Minister cannot be elected while the current one is still in office.
Dr. Ibadullah said that the Governor KP has summoned Ali Amin Gandapur to clarify the ambiguities on October 15 at Governor House Peshawar.
“What’s the hurry with our friends? If they have the numbers, why make the process controversial? This act is illegal, and we will not be a part of it.”
PHC Moved Against KP Assembly Ongoing Session
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has been moved against the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly session which elected the Chief Minister of the province.
Governor Kundi Summons CM Gandapur to Verify Resignation on Oct 15
Earlier, Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi formally written to Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, directing him to appear at the Governor’s House on October 15 for verification of two purported resignation letters received earlier this month.
According to the Governor’s letter, two separate sets of resignation documents dated October 8 and October 11, were received at the Governor’s House, both allegedly bearing different and inconsistent signatures.
The Governor said that, as he is currently out of the city and will return to Peshawar on the evening of October 15, the Chief Minister has been advised to meet him at 3:00 p.m. the same day to verify the authenticity of the documents.
Governor Kundi emphasized that the matter would be settled strictly in accordance with the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
