PESHAWAR(The COW News Digital) The formation of the new 13-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet has stirred political debate within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as reports suggest that founder chairman Imran Khan’s directives regarding cabinet size and appointments were ignored.
According to party insiders, Imran Khan had instructed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to keep the provincial cabinet small — between five and eight members — and ensure that it remained in single digits. However, the newly announced cabinet includes 13 ministers, who were sworn in on Friday by the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sources within PTI claim that Khan had also issued clear instructions to exclude certain individuals from the cabinet, including Aqibullah Khan (brother of senior leader Asad Qaiser), Faisal Tarkai (brother of former minister Shahram Tarkai), and former provincial minister Shakeel Khan. Despite those directions, all three were reportedly included in the final list.
A senior PTI figure told reporters that Khan wanted to induct experienced and previously overlooked senior members to balance the cabinet. However, the final selections reflected a different approach, sparking internal tensions between the party’s provincial leadership and its imprisoned founder.
Reacting to the reports, Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi dismissed claims of defiance, clarifying that Imran Khan had not issued any formal orders, but rather sent a general message advising that the cabinet remain compact.
“Chairman Imran Khan only suggested keeping the cabinet small. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was authorized to make his own selections,” Meena Khan said.
He added that the cabinet’s composition could change at any time, emphasizing that Imran Khan retains the authority to appoint or remove any minister whenever he deems fit.
The minister further defended the appointments, saying the new cabinet includes both senior, experienced figures and young members, ensuring a balance between governance continuity and youth participation.
Political observers believe the episode exposes growing tensions between PTI’s central leadership and its provincial branch, especially as the party navigates challenges in maintaining unity and authority while Imran Khan remains incarcerated.
The new KP cabinet’s formation marks a critical test for Chief Minister Sohail Afridi’s leadership, as he seeks to balance loyalty to the party founder with political pragmatism on the ground.
