The chief minister had requested for an appointment with the prime minister, to discuss several issues, including the handover of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to K-P. PHOTO: FILE
The provincial chief minister and his cabinet members did not show up in Swat to receive Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif – which is against protocol.
Interestingly, protocol had been violated by the PML-N itself in the past. When former prime minister Benazir Bhutto visited Punjab on many occasions during her first term, the then chief minister, Nawaz Sharif, did not welcome her.
During the previous Pakistan Peoples Party government, Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif also did not receive the then premier, Yousaf Raza Gilani, when he visited the province.
On Wednesday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led K-P government followed in PML-N’s footsteps. The conspicuous absence of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was reportedly a message of disapprobation, according to officials.
The chief minister had requested for an appointment with the prime minister, to discuss several issues, including the handover of Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to K-P. However, the Centre has been unresponsive so far, which irked Khattak who decided to ignore the PM’s Swat trip, explained officials.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2014.
COMMENTS (18)
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Pakistan doesn't need an enemy. Its own people alongside their leadership are enough to wreck it.
@Khan:
Is that why his party is in power in 2 provinces and has the numbers to be in power in KP as well?
Neither the Army nor the Prime Minister have any authority in KPK province which has the elected parliament as well as an elected Chief Minister. The normal protocal demands that the visit of the PM should take place at the pleasure of the Chief Minister. It was h purely an army show who were given the permission by the previous KPK government. Nawaz Sharif is simply encouraging agitation in the probvince.
Rex Minister
I think Khattak did right. Khattak wrote letters to Nawaz Sharif on NATO supply and PESCO issue. No reply but he can hop around all over the world. Those calling PTI childish on this issue don't know decent ways of registering protest.
What goes around that comes around too, Stop blaming PTI for everything.. N league itself is responsible for all this mess of not entertaining KP requests in recent months. instead N league is sending abid sher ali to peshawar and THREATNING KP GOVT of not giving them electricity even. lets be realistic
ET: Thanking you in advance for not publishing the comment. peace
Well done Mr. Khattak
Well, he is a PM of Punjab (in reality) and CM of KPK did the right thing.
@Distant observer: If you think PTi is the party of the insane I would like to stay away from the place where you live at. Probably a circus. The PM came with an effort to promote the youth loan scheme, an attempt to steal popularity among youth, that is all. There are bigger issues in KP than a soon to be a failure loan scheme.
All these corrupt, so call public servants/politicians are embroiled in their personal,petty squabbles. In dishing out insults and receiving insults...while the country suffers.
PTI is the party of insane people , from top to bottom !
Choron ko parr gaye mor. Precisely what Shahbaz Sharif had been doing during past 5 years. Nawaz got a flavor of their own medicine.
PMLN did Wrong ...Now PTI doing wrong ..what's the difference
PTI and their churlish supporters have a lot to learn about democratic norms and civility.
Mr Nawaz Sharif needs to realise that Punjab and specifically Lahore is not Pakistan! There is more to Pakistan then Punjab & Lahore. PM did not find it fit to even go or call CM once to meet him about issues in KP but came on a trip to Swat? For what?
CM sent how many letters to PM to discuss situations going on in KP, did he ever answer one, let alone meeting him. I am glad that CM did not go to meet PM, when PM is this callous about KP and its problems, he has no right to expect CM to come and greet him.