PESHAWAR — The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has finalized a 13-member cabinet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, diverging from party founder Imran Khan’s suggestion to keep the cabinet between five and eight members, The News reported on Saturday.
Sources said Imran had advised a compact, single-digit cabinet and recommended excluding certain individuals, including Aqibullah Khan, Faisal Tarakai, and former minister Shakeel Khan. Despite this, they were included in the final lineup. Imran had also suggested other senior members be added, but those recommendations were not implemented.
Read More: 13-member KP cabinet sworn in
Provincial Minister Meena Khan clarified that Imran Khan had only conveyed a general message to keep the cabinet small and allowed Chief Minister Sohail Afridi the freedom to select his team. The cabinet consists of a mix of experienced and new faces, including three ministers who were not part of the previous administration under Ali Amin Gandapur.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa @fkkundi administered the oath to the newly appointed provincial cabinet members at Governor House. The ceremony was attended by CM @SohailAfridiISF, Speaker @BabarSaleemSwat and party senior officials. pic.twitter.com/RKk1fFXpnw
— Chief Minister KP (@KPChiefMinister) October 31, 2025
The new provincial cabinet includes 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 Tarakai (Swabi). In addition, Taj Muhammad Tarand (Battagram) and Muzzammil Aslam (Karachi) were appointed as advisers, while Shafi Jan (Kohat) was named special assistant to the chief minister.
Read More: KP forms 13-member cabinet, sidelines Imran Khan’s orders
The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor’s House, administered by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi and attended by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, cabinet members, and senior officials. CM Afridi also met with Governor Kundi to discuss law and order, development projects, and KP’s share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, emphasizing a united stance in support of the province’s rights.