The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has issued a notice to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. The notice relates to a petition challenging his election as provincial chief minister.

A three-member FCC bench heard the case on Tuesday. Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan headed the bench during the hearing.

The court issued the notice to Sohail Afridi and sought responses from the concerned parties. Further proceedings have been adjourned until the second week of October.

The petition was filed by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat. He has questioned the legal status of Sohail Afridi’s election as KP chief minister.

Marwat has raised objections over the circumstances that led to the change in the provincial leadership. He argued that former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur did not resign voluntarily.

According to the petition, Gandapur’s resignation was also not accepted by the KP governor. Marwat has therefore challenged the subsequent election of Sohail Afridi.

He has claimed that the election was illegal and unconstitutional. The court will now examine the arguments presented in the petition.

The latest notice places the KP chief minister’s office under another legal challenge. The case could lead to further discussion about the constitutional process for changing provincial leadership.

The FCC has not yet reached a final decision in the matter. The court will consider the responses before proceeding with the case.

The legal challenge also comes against the backdrop of Marwat’s earlier dispute with PTI leadership. His relationship with the party leadership deteriorated before his expulsion.

On February 12, 2025, PTI expelled Marwat from its basic membership. The decision was taken on the instructions of party founder Imran Khan.

The party had also considered Marwat’s response to a show-cause notice before taking action against him. PTI had issued that notice over alleged violations of party discipline.

According to the party notification, senior leaders had raised complaints about Marwat’s conduct. The complaints were linked to his appearance at a rally in Swabi.

The party leadership also criticized Marwat for statements that allegedly differed from PTI’s official position. These developments eventually led to disciplinary action against him.

The current petition has now brought Marwat back into focus through a constitutional case. The court’s notice means the concerned parties will have an opportunity to respond.

Further proceedings are expected in October. The FCC will then consider the responses before deciding how the case should proceed.

The outcome could have political and constitutional significance for the KP government. However, no final judgment has been issued so far.

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