Three aides to K-P CM shown the door

Four ministers likely to be removed in the next few days

PESHAWAR:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Saturday ousted three advisers and special assistants from the cabinet over ‘poor performance’.

Four more ministers are expected to be removed from their posts in the next few days.

Information and Technology Adviser Ziaullah Bangash, Energy Adviser Himayatullah Khan, and Special Assistant on Excise and Taxation Syed Ghazi Ghazan Jamal have submitted their resignations, which have been accepted by K-P Governor Shah Farman.

According to sources, the members of the K-P cabinet were issued orders to hand over their resignations because the provincial government was not satisfied with their performance and multiple complaints had been filed against them.

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“The PTI leadership in the Centre was receiving multiple complaints against the three members of the provincial cabinet,” an official of the ruling party told The Express Tribune requesting anonymity.

“The chief minister was directed to remove them, while the expelled members were asked to submit resignations,” he added.

“The performance of four other ministers is also unsatisfactory and they have been asked to step down.”

One of these ministers is from Peshawar, two from Malakand division and one from a tribal district.

The official further disclosed that lobbying was at its peak in the K-P government and key members of the provincial cabinet were striving for the portfolio of their choice amid reports of a reshuffle.

“The provincial ministers with two portfolios are not willing to settle for one post,” said the official.

“They are trying to run both ministries simultaneously.”

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Cabinet members holding two portfolios have been asked to choose one and this has caused great unrest among them.

The official added that the chief minister might appoint two new advisers to the provincial cabinet.

“Some provincial cabinet members are not satisfied with their current portfolio and want the ministry of their own choice.”

The K-P government has recently inducted four new ministers in the provincial cabinet who are yet to be assigned portfolios.