Governor asked the electronic and print media to not publish information without confirming its accuracy as “one small mistake creates many issues.” PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Responding to criticism leveled against his eligibility as the new Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) governor, Shaukatullah Khan said he is a citizen of Pakistan, hailing neither from Afghanistan nor any other country.
He addressed the media at a certificate distribution ceremony at the Khyber Institute of Technical Education on Wednesday and responded to accusations regarding his eligibility as the governor of the province.
Khan is a registered voter in Bajaur Agency, part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and according to a petition filed in Peshawar High Court on Wednesday – the governor must be registered to vote in the province he is appointed to.
“This criticism started with my appointment,” said Khan, who took oath on February 10, 2012 and replaced Barrister Masood Kausar.
“What message is being sent to the hundreds of thousands of people from the tribal region of Pakistan – that they belong to a part of Pakistan where no governor or prime minister can be appointed from?” he remarked.
“My appointment is in accordance to the Constitution of the country and any criticism leveled should be soundly backed,” claimed Khan.
With Peshawar Corps Commander Lieutenant General Khalid Rabbani present in the audience, the governor said: “It’s true; I belong to the tribal belt but is Fata not part of Pakistan?”
“Which country does Fata belong to that I am subjected to such criticism?”
Governor Khan maintained his appointment followed due procedures. He asked the electronic and print media to not publish information without confirming its accuracy as “one small mistake creates many issues.”
“If a person from Fata is subjected to increasing disparagement for being appointed governor then it’s ample evidence no one from that region would be able to hold any high portfolio or become the prime minister,” claimed Khan.
He commented on law and order in Fata as it stands today and claimed things had improved since 2007-2008. Khan asserted conditions in the tribal areas will become “more congenial in the coming days”.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 14th, 2013.
COMMENTS (6)
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@Tribal insafian: Make use of your brain. The issues is not about his credentials, the issues is that no one can become a governor from FATA. This is what you should look at it..being a tribal u r ignoring this derogatory and draconian rule and are after trivial things of he did nt visit his constituency or did not help refugees etc. Nonsense...The first ever true Representative of Tribal People as a governor and are being opposed because he is a tribal and does not belong to KP so he can not be a governor of KP but vise versa is always true. What a shame.....
@Tribal Insafian: these parties only want tribals and pashtuns to be obedient to america and die without making a noise vote them out vote for JI
Stop this drama in the name of us tribesmen please. You, Sir, were elected MNA from my area Bajaur Agency in 2008 and have yet to be seen in the constituency. We went through the agony of 4-years operations while you sat comfortably in Islamabad enjoying your ministry. Do you even know how many tribesmen from your constituency are living like refugees in Jalozai Camp? Have you ever visited them? Never, because you know the day they see you, some law & order situation is going to ensue. You are NOT a Tribesman Sir. You are just another feudal politician who has been sucking the blood of this country's 180 million people; tribal or non-tribal. Regards, A Tribesman from your constituency (NA-43, Bajaur Agency)
well said Mr Khan.