Heavy is the head: Filled after 41 years, home minister’s post vacated

Mehmood Khan now holds ministry of Sports, Culture, Archaeology, Museums and Youth Affairs

PESHAWAR:

In a new development, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has taken back the portfolio of the minister for home and tribal affairs from Mehmood Khan. He now holds ministry of sports, culture, archaeology, museums and youth affairs.

The cabinet wing of the provincial government issued a notification in this regard on Thursday. The notification modified the department’s previous modification issued on January 19, under which Mehmood was given the portfolio of home department.

The earlier move which gave the home ministry to Mehmood was welcomed in political and bureaucratic circles of K-P as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led provincial government had appointed a home minister, a slot filled after 41 years. However, Mehmood could only keep the slot for a month.

Mehmood had already served as the sports minister during the PTI government. However, he was removed after funds worth Rs1.8 million from the directorate of sports were transferred into his personal account in 2014. Insiders maintained he has been “deliberately brought back” to the slot. Former ACS Dr Hammad Awais Agha conducted an enquiry in the case and Mehmood was let go free of any charge. However, he lost the portfolio. He then received the slot for irrigation ministry but that too was given to Qaumi Watan Party’s Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao in October.

Although he could not be reached despite many attempts, an official close to him revealed Mehmood had himself asked for it. “He was not happy with the tussle between officers, which is why he was pushing for the change,” said the official seeking anonymity.

Caught in the middle

Explaining the reasons, the official referred to the ongoing tension between K-P police and the provincial bureaucracy, particularly the chief secretary and the home department over the drafts of the K-P police reforms.

“The police want independence while the bureaucracy wants to keep the police under the wings of the home department,” he said. The insider said the police has framed its own draft for the police reforms bill while the home department has its own draft. A cabinet committee has worked over the issue and has submitted its recommendations but the matter is still stuck in a limbo.

“Mehmood said, ‘The officers are not obeying each other, then how can they follow my directions. Therefore, it is better for me to switch departments’,” the official said quoting Mehmood.

Mehmood’s Public Relations Officer Imtiaz Ahmed echoed the sentiment and said, “The minister will now be able to better serve the people from his area.” Ahmed added, Imran Khan, who takes keen interest in sports, was happy with his performance, which is why he switched Mehmood’s portfolio.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2016.