The Peshawar High Court reserved its decision on a petition regarding the oath-taking of the newly elected Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The hearing was held under the leadership of the Chief Justice of the High Court. During the session, the Additional Attorney General informed the court that the Governor is on an official trip and will return by 2 pm the next day.
The Chief Justice asked whether the Governor had given consent for the oath-taking. The Additional Attorney General replied that the Governor had summoned Ali Amin Gandapur for approval of his resignation. The court pressed for clarity, but the Attorney General said the Governor would decide once he returned.
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Advocate Amir Javed, representing the Governor, requested the court to wait until the Governor’s arrival, promising all matters would be settled then. He added that until the new Chief Minister takes oath, the previous one would continue in office. The court responded that this only applies if no election has taken place; in this case, an election has already been held and other parties also filed nomination papers.
Amir Javed suggested the Governor might approve the resignation and oversee the oath-taking upon his return, and said the government can send a plane if timing is urgent. The court asked if the Governor travels by public flight, to which Javed confirmed. After concluding arguments, the court reserved its verdict.
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Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) challenged the election of the new Chief Minister by filing a petition in Peshawar High Court. The petition, submitted by MPA Lutfur Rahman, argued that Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation has not been accepted and the election of the new Chief Minister Suhail Afridi is illegal and unconstitutional. The petition demanded the nullification of Suhail Afridi’s election.
Last night, Suhail Afridi of PTI was elected KP Chief Minister with support from 90 assembly members. However, the KP Governor has yet to accept Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation and returned it with objections, leading to the ongoing legal dispute.