Sardar Mehtab steps down as K-P governor

The PML-N leader says he took the decision due to his health condition and increasing political engagements

PESHAWAR: Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan Abbasi stepped down as Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor on Monday. He confirmed the news while talking to The Express Tribune, saying he took the decision due to his health condition and increasing political engagements.

The news came days after he had tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a meeting at the PM’s House in Islamabad on February 4.

Mehtab is a seasoned politician and plans to prepare for the general elections in 2018, whereas he will try to retain his seats both in the national and provincial assemblies.



Earlier reports suggested that the prime minister had asked Mehtab to continue working till the next K-P governor is appointed.

“The governor has resigned. However, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had asked Mehtab to stay in the office till his replacement is nominated,” an insider privy to the matter had told The Express Tribune on Saturday.

Mehtab said he wanted to resign so he could participate more actively in politics. However, insiders say Mehtab was experiencing hurdles in exercising his powers.

Soon after assuming office in 2014, he started working on FATA reforms but those could not materialise. For this purpose, he constituted a commission with former chief secretary Ejaz Qureshi, but the body ceased to exist after some time without any explanations rendered to the media or parties involved.

Possible successors

The name of Lieutenant General (retd) Tariq Khan Betani has been lingering in the air for the last three days as a possible successor, a politician, reque4sting not to be named, told The Express Tribune.



However, he said “There are bright chances of Major (retd) Amir occupying the soon-to-become-vacant office. By appointing Major (retd) Amir, the PM can satisfy many people’s demands.”