K-P chooses caretaker CM as other provinces struggle

Manzoor Afridi to be K-P caretaker CM; no consultations in Sindh but Balochistan optimistic of reaching consensus

PESHAWAR/KARACHI: The provincial assemblies’ term is coming to an end in days. However, except for Khyber-Pakhtunkwa (K-P), the governments and leading opposition groups in the provinces have so far failed to reach a consensus on the caretaker setup.

On Saturday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led K-P government and the opposition finally reached a consensus on the name of Manzoor Afridi as K-P caretaker chief minister.

The agreement came after several rounds of talks between K-P Chief Minister Parvez Khattak and opposition leader in K-P Assembly Maulana Lutf-ur-Rehman.

“Yes, several sittings were held and many names including those of bureaucrats, former judges and some retired army official were also discussed. Later both Khattak and Rehman agreed upon someone from the tribal areas, Manzoor Afridi,” a senior government official informed.



Besides Afridi, people whose names came under discussion include K-P former inspector general police Abbas Khan, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority’s former chief Himayatullah, senior journalist Raheemullah Yousafzai and former chief secretaries Abdullah and Shakeel Durrani.

“Afridi’s name was finalised on Friday but was disclosed on Saturday,” the official said.

Talking to media persons in Mardan, K-P Education Minister Atif Khan also confirmed that Afridi’s name had been finalised. “After detailed discussion, the government and the opposition reached consensus on Afridi who will be running the provincial government affairs during the caretaker set-up,” he added.

Manzoor Afridi hails from Khyber Agency’s Bara Tehsil and many of his family members are already in active politics. Currently, his uncle Ayub Afridi is representing the PTI in the Senate. Afridi is also the first cousin of Javed Afridi, owner of Peshawar Zalmi, former champions of Pakistan Super League (PSL).



Deadlock in Sindh

The incumbent government in Sindh is going to complete its five-year tenure on Monday, but no progress has so far been made over the appointment of a caretaker chief minister.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that a decision in case of Sindh would finally be taken by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) as the government and the opposition did not seem to consider each other’s nominations.

The sources said the Sindh government had earlier shared with the opposition a few names for caretaker chief minister, including former minister Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Justice (retd) Ghulam Sarwar Jamali and former provincial election commissioner Sono Khan Baloch.

There were reports that the opposition leader who held a meeting with the chief minister two weeks ago had discussed proposed names of Aftab Shaikh and Ghous Ali Shah, but the chief minister had refused the proposal and told him to consult other opposition parties.

A meeting between the CM and the opposition leader was scheduled on Thursday at the CM House, but the opposition leader boycotted it following the CM’s remarks against the creation of new province in Sindh.



“The CM repeatedly called the opposition leader, but in vain,” said a senior official in the Sindh government.

The sources said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and other opposition parties were also willing to see the matter referred to the ECP rather than giving opportunity to the PPP to appoint its own candidate.

“The CM is waiting for the opposition leader, but the latter is adopting delaying tactics,” Nisar Khuhro of the PPP said while speaking to media. Despite many attempts, Khawaja Izharul Hasan could not be contacted.

Punjab CM to discuss nominations with Sharif

Two names have been shortlisted for nomination of Punjab’s caretaker chief minister and CM Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold a meeting with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to take his consent on one of the proposed names on Sunday before holding finally meeting with the opposition leader on Monday.

On Saturday, CM Shehbaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Mian Mehmood ur Rashid held a meeting in which both side presented two names each.

The two names put forward by the government were said to be that of Punjab former inspector general Tariq Saleem Dogar and Justice (retd) Sahir Ali. The opposition leader gave names of Punjab former chief secretary Kamran Rasool and Punjaband Balochistan former chief secretary Nasir Mehmood Khosa.

The meeting was also attended by Speaker Rana Iqbal, Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Deputy Opposition Leader Sardar Sibtain Khan. Sources said the PTI had to reconsider its earlier nominations of the State Bank former head Shahid Kardar and the Federal Investigation Agency former DG Tariq Khosa.

Speaking to media after the meeting with the CM, Rashid said no name for caretaker CM had been finalised in the first meeting. He also confirmed that four names were floated, two from each side and now one name had been shortlisted from each side.

“The CM has sought time to discuss the names with Nawaz Sharif. The second meeting with the CM will be held on Monday,” he said, expressing hope that they would finalise the candidate for the caretaker CM in the next meeting.

He said the opposition may give surprise in the next meeting [Monday]. Rashid reportedly held meeting with PML-Q leader Pervaiz Elahi on Saturday to discuss the nomination for caretaker setup.



Consultations in Balochistan

The second round of talks between the Balochistan government and the opposition failed to evolve a consensus on the caretaker set-up. Balochistan Chief Minister Abdul Qudus Bizenjo and Opposition Leader Abdul Rahim Ziaratwal on Saturday met to finalise a name for caretaker CM.

On the second day, the provincial government shortlisted names of Prince Ahmed Ali, Allauddin Mari and Advocate Kamran Murtaza as their three final names. Earlier its list contained eight names.

The final list presented by Ziaratwal contained names of Balochistan Assembly’s former speaker Aslam Bhootani and Ambassador Ashraf Jahangir Qazi. The third round of talks to come up with final name will be held today (Sunday) as the government and the opposition have pledged to evolve consensus within 72 hours.



During their first discussion for caretaker government, the Balochistan CM and the opposition leader had vowed to come up with a best name in the interest of the people of Balochistan.

Analysts believe it will be an uphill task for the two sides to come up with a unanimous candidate. However, the provincial government and the opposition are optimistic that a consensus will emerge in a day.