File photo of PTI flag. PHOTO: FILE
As the new government takes charge in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), names for cabinet members are yet to be finalised. Insider party sources say while members will be ‘personally’ picked by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, some PTI MPAs have already been assured a seat at the table.
“There is tough competition between the newly-elected MPAs within inner circles as they all want to secure a position for themselves in the provincial cabinet,” said a senior PTI leader, wishing anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. “The party’s central leadership has held several consultative meetings with the provincial leadership to form a consensus over the cabinet but little progress has been made. Powerful party leaders are jostling to induct their own favourites in the cabinet.”
According to a power-sharing formula proposed by the PTI to facilitate the formation of the provincial government, the party will get eight ministerial slots out of a total 15. Three ministries each will be given to coalition partners Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) while one minister will be inducted from the Awami Jamhuri Ittehad Pakistan (AJIP).
So far, a consensus has been reached on Shaukat Yousafzai as the information minister, Atif Khan as health minister, Ali Amin Gandapur as finance minister and Amjid Afridi as the special assistant to the chief minister on housing.
Owing to their past experience, the coalition partners were quick to nominate candidates for the cabinet. The PTI, on the other hand, is yet to make any formal announcement.
Decision making for the PTI has been tricky, especially with the inclusion of eight independent candidates who are also eyeing ministerial slots. Insiders claim independent MPA Israrullah Gandapur, who recently joined the PTI, could be given law ministry.
Additionally, names of other PTI aspirants looking to lay claim to cabinet positions are also cropping up. These include Shah Farman, Ziaullah Afridi, Sardar Idress, Shakil Khan, Mehmood Khan, Dr Amjad, and Dr Mehr Taj Roghani. However, it remains unclear who will end up with a ministry.
Previously, Yusuf Ayub, Yaseen Khalil, Javed Nasim, Arif Yousaf and Imtiaz Shahid were being considered for cabinet positions. According to party sources, however, these names are no longer in the running.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2013.
COMMENTS (33)
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Its strange that KPK government is doing opposite which PTI was fighting. Its coaliton partners QWP and JI with 7 seats each have grabbed 6 ministries. Is this people vote for. Because these two parties have won these seats from just two districts namely Charsadda and Dir. Rumors are that Sirajuhaq of JI will be next finance minster, So i asked PTI what changed he has brought when he was on the same post in MMA government from 2002 to 2008. Or he has the same credentials as CM Pervaiz khattak has: that is "Experience", do not laugh as NAWAZ and SHAHBAZ do not have experience. Further more, Education, health , energy, finance, home, irrigation ministries should not be given to coalition partners, else questions will be raised.
hahaha
No one is eying ministerial slots in PA and NA? By the way, "wrangle over" is not as appropriate in this case as "vying for"
@The Doppelgänger...i dont know why i dont finds such a story anywhere... if it does then still ET is far beyond imagination on reporting PTI rifts...
@Faisal Ahmad Jafri: And it was fine when entire media (especially mufti-e-sahafat ansaar abbassi) was gunning against PPP citing unnamed sources?
The best solution is to resolve it instead of bashing the newspaper. The cabinet should be formed immediately, however I doubt with JI as a coalition partner things will go smooth with PTI in KP.
@confused: Serve whom?
Muslim Leaguer's comment makes me curious; can any reader tell us more about CM Khattak's history of changing loyalties, and the specific reason he gave for changing parties?
@Faisal Ahmad Jafri: The PTI is showing the TRUE COLORS OF NAYA PAKISTAN! what is there to refrain about?
After reading @Muslim Leaguer's comments, I am really curious to know more about CM Khttak's ever changing loyalties! Can any reader provide more info on this man?
If lack of discipline and hunger for power in PTI, is the reality of this revolutionary zeal and quest for change, than they are no different to PPP and PML-N. I do not support MQM, but I do admire their discipline and respect for their leaders.
So what is the point? PTI is selecting its cabinet and there are 50 plus PTI members for 8 cabinet slots. Its a scandal only if PTI obliges all 50 MPA's like in the past governments.
ET loves to bash pti when it comes to depicting a negative image about it.Can it criticize mqm?No,it cant imagine doing so!!
PTI has selected Pervez Khattak, a 61 year old “youth”, who has changed his loyalties 4 times in the past, swinging from PPP to AftabSherpao to ANP because he happens to be the former school-mate of PTI's Lifetime Chairman Imran Khan Niazi. This is an example of Cronyism!!!
In "real Pakistan", a person swinging loyalties is called “Lota” but in "Naya Pakistan" such a person has been made as Cheif Minister despite the fact that he had lost the much-trumpeted intra-party elections. This is called Horse Trading!!!
3 immediate female family members of Pervez Khattak have been made MPAs on reserved seats against the tall claims of ending dynastic politics. This is called Nepotism!!!
Welcome all PTI trolls to so-called Naya KPK.
Long Live Pakistan!
@Usman E.T is not anti P T I It is because people have more hopes from P T IIf they can't even figure out how to form a cabinet due to internal politicking, thats not a good sign for the next five years and makes me kind of glad they didn't actually get a majority in the center
Now starts the game. All those claims of changing pakistan will now be tested.
Tribune, Please use some good file photo of PTI flag
I love ET's day by day updates of events. Our tv news channels need to do that because they have airtime to fill. You are a newspaper...you dont have to do that :)
Unless you want to be known as a rumor news site. If you dont publish this comment. At least pass it on to your editorial staff. Much obliged....
That's what PTI really is A party of power hungers. If they had been a real change. the members of the party would not be the same old faces.
@Tahir Ali: No one will qualify.
ET will chase PTI to the grave.
@ Tariq Ali PTI will never listen to your suggestion because the Chief Minister Pervez Khattak is 61 year old "youth" who has changed his loyalties 4times in the past, swinging from PPP to Sherpao to ANP. Lastly, he was thrown out by ANP. In real Pakistan, such a person is called "Lota" but PTI is good for nothing except for crafting a Dictionary to twist meanings in its own favour.
Regarding females, the new Government in KPK is really serious by inducting 3 female MPAs from CM Khattak's immediate family.
@Faisal Ahmad Jafri @shinwari The story is published in all leading papers of KP- English as well as Urdu- Do some research before you go all bonkers. Just because ET allows you to comment doesn't mean you start bashing the same newspaper. Read a little more and come back to reply.
E.T why always anti PTI ????
PTI should retain finance, health and education ministries in all circumstances.
@Faisal...its ET boss.and if there is no news coming out of PTI..they will make one..don't you remember what they did before the elections..every day Shah mehmood was leaving PTI..
Put them through MENSA test.Let the most brilliant make it to the cabinet Minimum education requirement should be 16 years education Atleast 33% of the Ministers should be females. Maximum age of Minister should be 55 years
A doctor should be appointed as Health Minister, regardless of which party he/she belongs to.
No compromise on health please.
After all PTIans are Pakistanis too. They too have hearts and wishes...to serve of course.!!!
On ET it always seems to be serious rifts among PTI caders... While there are no such rumors on the ground.. so where did ET finds these inside anonymus leaders who dont want to be named?
Either the ET should quote which leader gave this highly valuable insider news or should refrain from news based on mere speculation. A sincere advice from a regular ET reader!