Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have voiced reservations and complaints following the recent expansion of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial cabinet, with some senior party figures criticizing the selection process and questioning the criteria used for appointments.

The provincial government recently inducted six new ministers, four advisers, and eight special assistants into the cabinet. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath to the newly appointed cabinet members.

However, shortly after the announcement, dissatisfaction within PTI circles began surfacing publicly.

Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor and senior PTI leader Shah Farman expressed disappointment over not being consulted during the cabinet expansion process. While congratulating the newly appointed cabinet members, he stated that no one from the party leadership sought his opinion regarding the new appointments.

Shah Farman said that despite being a member of PTI’s Internal Accountability Committee, he was neither consulted nor asked to recommend names for inclusion in the provincial cabinet.

“I congratulate the newly appointed cabinet members,” he said. “But as a member of the party’s Internal Accountability Committee, nobody consulted me regarding the cabinet, nor did I recommend anyone for inclusion.”

His statement has fueled speculation about internal differences within the party and concerns over decision-making processes in the provincial government.

Meanwhile, former PTI provincial minister Nek Muhammad also criticized the cabinet expansion, claiming that merit was ignored while selecting new members.

According to him, several deserving individuals were overlooked, and the appointments appeared to favor politically connected figures.

“Nobody was included in the cabinet on merit,” he alleged. “Chief Minister’s adviser Sohail Afridi is not even willing to answer our phone calls, and we do not call to demand ministries.”

Nek Muhammad further claimed that brothers of Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) had been accommodated in the cabinet, raising concerns about favoritism and political influence.

He also criticized the lack of representation from certain districts, particularly South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and Bannu. According to him, these important regions were ignored during the cabinet formation process.

“Neither South nor North Waziristan has been represented in the cabinet, while Bannu also has no representation,” he said.

The criticism from senior PTI leaders comes at a sensitive time for the party, which is already facing political and organizational challenges at both provincial and national levels.

Political observers believe cabinet expansions often create tensions within political parties because many lawmakers and senior leaders expect representation for themselves or their regions. In coalition-building and internal party politics, balancing regional, tribal, and political interests remains a major challenge for provincial governments.

Analysts also note that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s political landscape is particularly complex due to its diverse tribal, regional, and political dynamics. Any perceived imbalance in representation can quickly lead to dissatisfaction among party members.

Despite the criticism, the provincial government maintains that the cabinet expansion was carried out according to administrative needs and governance priorities. The inclusion of new ministers and advisers is expected to strengthen the provincial administration and improve departmental performance.

However, the public complaints by senior PTI figures indicate that internal disagreements over governance and political representation continue to exist within the party.

The newly expanded cabinet is now expected to begin functioning formally after the oath-taking ceremony conducted by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi. The performance of the new ministers and advisers will likely be closely watched both by the opposition and by PTI’s own leadership and supporters.

The development highlights ongoing internal political challenges within PTI in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province long considered one of the party’s strongest political bases.