The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has finalized a 13-member cabinet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), defying the instructions of party founder Imran Khan, who had advised keeping the cabinet limited to five to eight members, The News reported on Saturday.
According to party insiders, Imran had emphasized that the cabinet should be compact and restricted to single digits. However, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi went ahead with a larger formation. The former prime minister had also explicitly opposed the inclusion of Aqibullah Khan (brother of Asad Qaiser), Faisal Tarakai (brother of Shahram Tarakai), and former minister Shakeel Khan — all of whom are now part of the final lineup.
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A senior PTI leader told The News that Imran had also proposed adding several senior members who had been previously overlooked, but those recommendations were ignored.
Provincial Minister Meena Khan, however, denied that any formal instructions were issued by Imran Khan. He clarified that the PTI founder had only advised keeping the cabinet small while allowing CM Sohail Afridi full discretion in selecting his team.
“Imran Khan reserves the right to make changes to the cabinet at any time,” Meena Khan said, adding that the new team represents a blend of experienced and young members, including three fresh faces not part of Ali Amin Gandapur’s previous cabinet.
Party sources revealed that the inclusion of Aqibullah Khan and Faisal Tarakai has caused unease within PTI ranks, prompting some excluded members — both elected MPAs and defeated candidates — to begin lobbying for positions. A senior leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the episode had once again highlighted the party’s internal divisions.
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He added that several regions remain unrepresented, while key figures like Taimur Saleem Jhagra and Kamran Bangash were left out. Apart from one newcomer, most ministers had previously served under former CMs Ali Amin Gandapur and Mahmood Khan.
Notably, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif — once close to both Imran Khan and the establishment — was dropped, along with former Peshawar nazim Asim Khan, Major (Retd) Sajjad Barkwal, Adnan Qadri, Syed Qasim Ali Shah, and Zahir Shah Toru.
CM Sohail Afridi unveiled the 13-member cabinet late Thursday night. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor’s House, where Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath. The event was attended by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, cabinet members, and senior officials.
The new cabinet comprises 10 provincial ministers: Meena Khan Afridi (Peshawar), Arshad Ayub Khan (Haripur), Dr. Amjad Ali (Swat), Aftab Alam Khan (Kohat), Fazal Shakoor Khan (Charsadda), Khaliqur Rehman (Nowshera), Riaz Khan (Buner), Syed Fakhar Jehan, Aqibullah Khan, and Faisal Khan Tarakai (Swabi).
Additionally, Taj Muhammad Tarand from Battagram and Muzzammil Aslam — a close aide of Imran Khan from Karachi — were appointed as advisers, while Shafi Jan from Kohat was named special assistant to the chief minister.
Governor Kundi congratulated the new ministers and extended his best wishes. Later, CM Afridi met with the governor to discuss law and order, ongoing development projects, and KP’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. Both leaders agreed to adopt a united stance in safeguarding the province’s rights.