K-P govt seeks to appease disgruntled MPAs

To placate ruling party lawmakers unhappy about not being included in the provincial cabinet, the PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has decided to appoint them as parliamentary secretaries or chairmen of various standing committees and District Development Advisory Committees (DDACs).

It has been learned that the K-P government is working on appeasing some provincial assembly members who, after being left out of the cabinet, have demanded other positions. According to sources, the ruling party has sought input from the assembly members regarding their interest in becoming parliamentary secretaries, DDAC chairpersons, and standing committee chiefs.

The sources have also indicated that the government plans to appoint eight parliamentary secretaries and chairmen of 37 standing committees. This includes the nomination of chairpersons for the assembly’s four standing committees—Privileges, Judicial, House and Library, and Law Reforms—while the remaining 32 standing committees will be related to various departments.

The PTI swept the provincial assembly elections in K-P and formed a government on its own despite the fact that it was deprived of its reserved seats in view of an order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The party, which ruled in the Centre from August 2018 till April 2022, faced a heavy-handed crackdown after violent rioting on May 9, 2023, when PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan was rounded up from the premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in connection with a corruption case.

After the May 9 incidents during which state and army properties were vandalized by angry mobs allegedly comprising PTI workers and supporters, several key PTI leaders left the party, which appeared on the verge of complete disintegration by June 2023.

However, in the February 8 general elections, the candidate backed by the PTI emerged as the largest group in the National Assembly, compelling some stakeholders to change their stance towards it.

The positions

Standing committees are essential components of legislative bodies, tasked with the detailed examination of specific policy areas and government functions. Each standing committee focuses on a particular sector, such as health, education, or finance, allowing for a more thorough and specialized review of legislation and government operations.

These committees scrutinize bills, monitor departmental activities, and hold hearings to gather information and public opinions. Their work ensures that proposed laws are thoroughly vetted and that government agencies are held accountable. By providing expert analysis and recommendations, standing committees play a crucial role in shaping effective and efficient legislation.

Parliamentary secretaries serve as key support figures within a government, assisting ministers in managing their departmental responsibilities. They act as liaisons between ministers and the legislative body, often representing the minister in parliamentary debates, responding to questions, and helping to manage the flow of legislative business.

DDACs, on the other hand, are vital local governance bodies tasked with overseeing development projects and initiatives within a district. Comprising local representatives, these committees provide a platform for community involvement in decision-making processes related to infrastructure, public services, and economic development.