Islamabad: The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) on Thursday disposed of a petition challenging Sohail Afridi’s appointment as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister, saying it had become infructuous following the imposition of emergency and governor’s rule.

Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan headed the bench, which also included Justice Ali Baqar Najafi. The court said the recent developments meant proceedings on the petition could no longer continue.

The petition, filed by estranged PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, challenged former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s resignation in October 2025 and Afridi’s subsequent appointment.

During the hearing, Marwat sought a brief adjournment, saying he also intended to challenge emergency and governor’s rule. Justice Najafi said those were separate matters and the challenge to Afridi’s appointment was no longer a live issue.

Marwat argued that Afridi could return to office if the measures were lifted. The chief justice said he could seek restoration of his petition through a miscellaneous application if that happened.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Marwat said he would prepare a legal challenge to emergency and governor’s rule by Friday. He also rejected allegations that the PTI patronised terrorism, saying its leaders had themselves been targeted.

In his original petition, Marwat alleged that Gandapur’s resignation followed directives from jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and was not voluntary. He sought to invalidate the resignation, set aside Afridi’s appointment and restore Gandapur.

The federal government imposed emergency and governor’s rule in KP on Sunday, citing what it described as the provincial government’s deliberate disengagement from efforts to combat terrorism. Afridi and some cabinet members remain in preventive custody.