Future prospects: ‘Peshawar should be represented in the provincial cabinet’

PTI office bearers from the city claim women workers should be adjusted in govt.

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) office bearers in the city have asked the party’s central leadership to make decisions on merit while distributing provincial ministries.

In a hastily called meeting chaired by PTI Peshawar General Secretary Younas Zaheer Mohmand on Monday, party office bearers asked appropriate representation be given to MPAs elected from the city in the provincial cabinet. At the meeting, several PTI activists raised concerns and questioned the party’s policy in nominating female candidates on reserved seats.

“We believe the Peshawar district party cabinet has been ignored and was not taken on board in making important decisions pertaining to the formation of the cabinet,” said PTI district Senior Vice President Malak Wajidullah Khan. “No female activist was considered for reserved seats from Peshawar.” The senior vice president informed PTI office bearers a committee, which would shortlist the names of candidates contesting the local body elections, would soon be formed at the district level.

Gul Bacha, PTI town-1 president and aspiring candidate for NA-1 Peshawar-I in the by-elections, also urged the central leadership to give female activists from the city representation. He suggested selecting a women party worker would help address concerns of the women’s wing.

“Imran Khan has promised a female activist based in Peshawar will be adjusted in the government,” General Secretary Younas Zaheer revealed. He asked the central leadership to give the local body ministry to an MPA elected from the city.

The general secretary informed, candidates for local body elections would be decided solely by the district-based leadership. The central leadership, including Imran Khan, Asad Umar and Saifullah Niazi, have already agreed it should be the right of the district leadership to shortlist candidates for the local body elections, he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.