'I'm not a parchi chief minister', says newly elected KP CM Sohail Afridi

PESHAWAR: Newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday said he was not elected on anyone’s ‘parchi’.

Addressing the KP Assembly session after his election as the new leader of the house, Afridi expressed gratitude to former CM Ali Amin Gandapur, saying, “I am thankful to Ali Amin Gandapur for his leadership and dedication.”

Sohail Afridi said that Gandapur had submitted his resignation twice, and both times, the Governor raised objections. “We pay tribute to Ali Amin Gandapur for announcing his resignation openly on the floor of the Assembly,” he added.

Rejecting the notion of being a “selected” leader, Sohail Afridi said, “I did not become CM through any parchi — I earned this position through hard work.”

He urged the need to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, stating, “We must eliminate the economic divide in our society.”

Sohail Afridi said his nomination as chief minister brought honor not only to the Pashtun community but also to the entire nation.

“I am proud that I come from the tribal districts — I am first a Pakistani and then a Pashtun,” he remarked.

Highlighting his political journey, Sohail Afridi said, “I have no family background in politics. My name is not Zardari, Bhutto, or Sharif — I reached this position through dedication and struggle.”

He described himself as “a champion of protest politics,” explaining, “I have nothing to lose, and I am not hungry for power.”

Afridi noted that the people of the tribal districts are pleased with the recent political developments and expressed his resolve to bring progress and development to these long-neglected areas.

He added that he was entrusted with leadership during a time of grave challenges. “Our party founder, Bushra Bibi, and several PTI workers are imprisoned — I assure PTI supporters that I will begin efforts for their release starting today,” the Chief Minister said.