The ministries are currently being looked after by CM Khattak till the posts get filled. PHOTO: FILE
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) MPAs from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are eyeing the five ministries that fell vacant following the killing of a minister, the sacking of another two and the disqualification of yet another over a fake degree.
The late PTI minister for law and parliamentary affairs, Israrullah Gandapur, was killed in a suicide attack on October 16 near DI Khan. Two Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) ministers – Bakht Baidar and Ibrar Hussain Tanoli – were recently dismissed over allegations of corruption. Following the sacking of Baidar and Hussain, QWP provincial president and senior minister Sikandar Sherpao also resigned from his post as senior minister for irrigation, energy and power.
The fifth ministry was vacated when the minister for communication and works (C&W) was disqualified by the Supreme Court for using a fake degree.
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Inayatullah Khan told The Express Tribune the prerogative of awarding ministries lies with K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak. However, to strengthen the provincial cabinet, the government is expected to accommodate independent MPAs or those belonging to the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML). “The ministries are currently being looked after by the chief minister,” confirmed Inayatullah.
PTI MPAs Iftikhar Ali Mashwani and Tufail Anjum are pushing hard to occupy the vacant ministries –industries, commerce & labour, technical education as well as forestry and environment.
A PTI worker and close aide of Mashwani said his boss is interested in the forest ministry, claiming Mashwani has experience in the timber sector and has remained the president of the carpenters association in Mardan. Mashwani could better serve as forestry minister than Tanoli, his sacked predecessor, argued the aide.
“He is also fit to tackle the commerce ministry. Mashwani has a clear shot at one of the ministries as he is one of PTI’s veteran leaders and is in close contact with Imran Khan.”
Anjum, who was elected from Mardan, is also in the race. Tufail deserved a ministry because he defeated the former provincial assembly speaker Abdul Akbar Khan in the 2013 general elections, insisted his personal secretary, Uzair Nomani
“He has the vision and capability to take on any ministry and would be a good addition to the cabinet,” claimed Nomani.
Activists and aides of both PTI MPAs are lobbying party members for a ministry, asking them to give the lawmakers an opportunity to “work for their district and constituencies.” Mobile text messages are being sent to party workers to convince the CM to decide in favour of the two MPAs.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 26th, 2013.
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