Yousafzai dismisses reports of cracks in cabinet

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai on Thursday rejected reports of any rift or grouping within the provincial cabinet and the provincial leadership of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

Speaking to the media after the provincial cabinet meeting, the information minister said that news of differences in the K-P government was false and that there is no grouping in the party, especially ‘Atif’ or ‘CM’ groups.

He added that it is the prerogative of the K-P chief minister to induct anyone into the cabinet.

Insisting that they were united, Yousafzai maintained that all senior party leaders had lobbied for the CM’s slot after the July 2018, elections, but once the leadership nominated Mahmood, he became the team leader and everyone in the party followed his decisions.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has reposed complete confidence in K-P Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, and any news of differences within the K-P cabinet or Mahmood’s replacement is baseless,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2020.