K-P ministers sacked for 'disclosing' internal matters

PM Imran terms the decision to remove the lawmakers a ‘tough’ one

ISLAMABAD: Expressing resentment at the sacked Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) ministers, Prime Minister Imran Khan said the lawmakers had been removed from office for disclosing party’s internal matters on media.

“I have never compromised on discipline,” the premier said, and added, “the decision to remove you from office was a tough one,” in a meeting with the former K-P ministers Atif Khan and Shahram Tarakai on Wednesday.

Senior minister for tourism Mohammad Atif Khan, health minister Shahram Tarakai and revenue minister Shakeel Ahmad had been sacked earlier this week after a notification for their removal from office was issued by Governor Shah Farman.

The notification was issued a couple of days after the tourism minister had reportedly invited nearly a dozen lawmakers belonging to the ruling party to a dinner arranged at Tarakai’s residence in Hayatabad allegedly to create a “forward bloc” in the provincial chapter of PTI.

Ousted K-P minister breaks silence

The sacked ministers were accused of trying to fail the incumbent K-P chief minister by not owning the cabinet decisions.

In the meeting with the PM, both the lawmakers expressed satisfaction over the premier’s decision but cast doubts that a conspiracy had been hatched against them.

Sources said that both Khan and Tarakai launched complaints against CM Mahmood Khan.

Tarakai claimed that the PTI gained a two-third majority in the province due to their performance.

The former minister noted that he had raised his voice over the running of affairs in the province several times but the situation worsened with the passage of time.

Khan said the assembly members had contacted him over the performance of the chief minister.

He denied the rumours that he was in the run for the post of chief minister and clarified that he only wanted to work in a peaceful environment.

The premier said he never gave importance to personalities and took tough decisions.

Both the legislators expressed resolve to continue working for the party.

WATCH: PM meets sacked K-P ministers Atif Khan, Shahram Tarakai in Islamabad @ImranKhanPTI pic.twitter.com/E2AooeIW1R

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) January 29, 2020