Opp questions Aslam's ministerial status

PESHAWAR:

The opposition in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday challenged the appointment of Muzammil Aslam, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Finance, as provincial minister, terming the Chief Secretary's notification unconstitutional and lacking governor's approval and oath-taking.

During the session chaired by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, PPP parliamentary leader Ahmad Kundi raised a point of order, stating that the March 7, 2026 notification granting ministerial status to Aslam violated constitutional provisions. He argued that under Article 132, only the Chief Minister can recommend a minister to the Governor, who then administers the oath. "A Chief Secretary has no authority to issue such a notification," Kundi said, adding that any actions taken by Aslam as minister so far were illegal.

Kundi demanded the Chief Secretary's immediate summoning to the House for explanation and warned that the assembly could not proceed with such ambiguity. "How can a minister exercise executive powers without taking oath? This is not how a government should function," he remarked, while acknowledging Aslam's competence and noting that the opposition had congratulated him.

Law Minister Aftab Alam defended the move, clarifying that Aslam remained an adviser and had only been granted the status of provincial minister. He referred to the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which permits up to seven advisers, and cited Article 132(2) and Article 130(9), allowing a non-elected person to serve as minister for up to six months. Alam said oath-taking may not be mandatory in such cases and assured the House that the notification would be verified.