High hopes: JI will be awarded the education ministry, says party leader
Claims negotiations with PTI over cabinet positions will be resolved ‘amicably’.
The JI leader claimed there should be no concern over the JI being awarded the education ministry. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Provincial Amir Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan maintains his party will be awarded the education ministry in the new K-P cabinet.
Ibrahim acknowledged there were reservations about the JI taking over such an important ministry during an address at the JI headquarters after a party provincial general council meeting on Sunday. However, the leader felt there was no cause for such concern.
The provincial amir spoke on several other topics as well. Touching on the much-debated security situation, Khan said every possible step – including peace talks with the Taliban – would be considered to restore law and order in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
“We say if there is an opportunity, it should not be wasted. Irrespective of whether the Taliban agree to negotiations or the government takes an initiative,” maintained Ibrahim.
“The need of the hour is to benefit from this opportunity and bring peace. That should be our first priority.”
The party’s general council has expressed its satisfaction over the JI’s performance in the elections, shared the party leader. Talks regarding the formation of the provincial government with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were underway, he added.
According to the JI leader, the party will be given three portfolios in the provincial cabinet, and Sirajul Haq, Inayatullah Khan and Habibur Rehman will get ministries.
However, Ibrahim clarified the cabinet portfolios were still being discussed with the PTI. “The talks will be resolved amicably.”
The JI had asked for the Planning and Development Department portfolio, which the Qaumi Watan Party had also demanded. According to Ibrahim, the PTI says the chief minister himself will keep this ministry.
While discussing the elections, Ibrahim argued the polls were a classic example of mismanagement and chaos – each party with the second-highest votes polled was levelling accusations of rigging.
He said the Election Commission of Pakistan was responsible, as it did not properly train the officials conducting the elections.
On the PTI’s policies, Ibrahim said the JI had no objections to the former’s transfer of development funds from lawmakers to local bodies, as distributing development funds was not the duty of lawmakers and the provincial government.
The JI agrees with the PTI’s push to arrange local body elections in the shortest possible time, he added.
Talking about the provincial government’s future, Ibrahim stated K-P’s coalition government will face several problems such as deteriorating law and order, corruption, unemployment, education and health. The JI leader claimed the ruling partners were in unison over putting an end to these issues and bringing good governance to the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.
Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Provincial Amir Professor Mohammad Ibrahim Khan maintains his party will be awarded the education ministry in the new K-P cabinet.
Ibrahim acknowledged there were reservations about the JI taking over such an important ministry during an address at the JI headquarters after a party provincial general council meeting on Sunday. However, the leader felt there was no cause for such concern.
The provincial amir spoke on several other topics as well. Touching on the much-debated security situation, Khan said every possible step – including peace talks with the Taliban – would be considered to restore law and order in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
“We say if there is an opportunity, it should not be wasted. Irrespective of whether the Taliban agree to negotiations or the government takes an initiative,” maintained Ibrahim.
“The need of the hour is to benefit from this opportunity and bring peace. That should be our first priority.”
The party’s general council has expressed its satisfaction over the JI’s performance in the elections, shared the party leader. Talks regarding the formation of the provincial government with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were underway, he added.
According to the JI leader, the party will be given three portfolios in the provincial cabinet, and Sirajul Haq, Inayatullah Khan and Habibur Rehman will get ministries.
However, Ibrahim clarified the cabinet portfolios were still being discussed with the PTI. “The talks will be resolved amicably.”
The JI had asked for the Planning and Development Department portfolio, which the Qaumi Watan Party had also demanded. According to Ibrahim, the PTI says the chief minister himself will keep this ministry.
While discussing the elections, Ibrahim argued the polls were a classic example of mismanagement and chaos – each party with the second-highest votes polled was levelling accusations of rigging.
He said the Election Commission of Pakistan was responsible, as it did not properly train the officials conducting the elections.
On the PTI’s policies, Ibrahim said the JI had no objections to the former’s transfer of development funds from lawmakers to local bodies, as distributing development funds was not the duty of lawmakers and the provincial government.
The JI agrees with the PTI’s push to arrange local body elections in the shortest possible time, he added.
Talking about the provincial government’s future, Ibrahim stated K-P’s coalition government will face several problems such as deteriorating law and order, corruption, unemployment, education and health. The JI leader claimed the ruling partners were in unison over putting an end to these issues and bringing good governance to the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 20th, 2013.