Sacking of ministers on K-P cabinet agenda

Session to debate ECP directive amid mounting concerns over electoral neutrality

PESHAWAR:

Amid mounting concerns over electoral neutrality, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) caretaker cabinet is set to convene a crucial session on Wednesday (today) to discuss the potential removal of ministers actively involved in politics.

Caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan will preside over the meeting, which comes in response to a directive from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) urging the removal of politically affiliated cabinet members to ensure an impartial electoral process.

The caretaker cabinet, made up of 26 members, has faced criticism due to the political backgrounds of many of its members.

A number of these individuals have previously held administrative positions within different political parties or have served as elected representatives on their tickets. This has led to concerns about the neutrality of the caretaker government.

Recent incidents have exacerbated these concerns. Notably, caretaker provincial minister Shahid Khattak was compelled to resign after attending a political gathering of the Awami National Party (ANP), an action that was widely shared on social media.

Similarly, Commerce Minister Adnan Jalil was removed following the withdrawal of his nomination by the ANP.

Despite the ECP’s call for prompt action, the caretaker government of K-P has remained conspicuously quiet and has yet to provide a response to the directive issued nine days ago.

ECP sources emphasize that the caretaker government has a responsibility to adhere to the instructions outlined in the letter.

On July 31, the ECP formally expressed its concern about the involvement of certain caretaker cabinet members in political matters, prompting a written request to Chief Minister Mohammad Azam Khan.

“The ECP desires you to review the appointments of interim cabinet members and immediately de-notify those ministers, advisers, and special assistants involved in politics, while keeping the cabinet members at a minimum. This is crucial to guarantee free, fair, and transparent elections,” stated the letter.

It emphasised that the caretaker government plays a vital role in ensuring a level playing field for all stakeholders, including political party candidates, enabling them to exercise their capacities without hindrance.

The letter stressed the need for a fair and transparent electoral process and called for the dismissal of politically active ministers, advisers, and special assistants.

According to Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the ECP is tasked with organizing and conducting elections impartially. In this context, the caretaker government plays a pivotal role in ensuring a level playing field for all political stakeholders.

However, the ECP expressed disappointment in learning about the appointment of ministers, advisers, and special assistants based on political affiliations through media reports.

Specific instances were cited in the letter, such as the case of former minister Shahid Khattak, who was observed engaging overtly in political activities and subsequently resigned upon receiving the commission’s notice. The ECP regarded such behavior as contradictory to the principles of the caretaker government, the Constitution, and the Elections Act 2017.

Despite the urgency conveyed by the ECP’s letter, nearly a week has passed without any discernible action or response from the caretaker government, leaving the matter unresolved.

Attempts to elicit a response from the government’s spokesperson, Barrister Feroze Jamal, have been unsuccessful, and the government’s position on the issue remains undisclosed.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2023.