Removal of cabinet members: PTI slated for double standards on corruption
Opposition claims party saved face by giving ‘poor performance’ as official reason behind dismissal.
PTI chief Imran Khan. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
Recent dismissals from the provincial cabinet were made on grounds of corruption but were given the less humiliating guise of ‘poor performance’. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly’s opposition parties made these accusations after two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers were sacked following an internal pressure group’s demands that PTI get rid of “corrupt elements”.
According to members of opposition parties, PTI had promised to end corruption and nepotism but failed to officially identify the same in its own party, “fearing humiliation”. This is diametrically opposite of when the provincial government sacked Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) MPAs from the cabinet over dishonesty, complained the disgruntled opposition.
“The 14-member pressure group launched their movement against corruption in the cabinet. And soon after former minister for industries Shaukat Yousafzai, and ex-adviser to the chief minister on transport Yaseen Khalil were sacked, the group publicly said 80% of their grievances were addressed”, Awami National Party Senator Zahid told The Express Tribune.
“The nation remembers his (Imran Khan) first speech when he said he will never lie to them. But even though his own party members identified the two cabinet members as indulging in corruption, they were officially removed for ‘bad performance’ – this suggests Imran Khan has lied,” said Zahid.
Sikandar Sherpao, QWP’s parliamentary leader in the K-P Assembly, also agreed with this interpretation. “This shows double standards on part of the PTI,” claimed Sherpao.
“PTI’s disgruntled members publicly said they will not tolerate corruption which was why the two cabinet members were removed. However, whenever Imran Khan faces criticism, he creates issues to divert public attention.”
According to Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Muhammad Ali Shah, this incident was meant to save face. “See, it all happened because of the pressure group which pinpointed corrupt elements. As far as I know, two more will be leaving the cabinet and I wonder what would be the official charges against them,” said Shah.
However, Adviser to Prime Minsiter Nawaz Sharif Amir Muqam claimed there were a number of other PTI members in the provincial assembly who indulged in corrupt practices. But, he added, the PTI leadership did a wise job by removing only those who would put up least resistance.
The official notification on the removal of two cabinet members stated ‘bad performance’ as a reason for the dismissal.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2014.
Recent dismissals from the provincial cabinet were made on grounds of corruption but were given the less humiliating guise of ‘poor performance’. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly’s opposition parties made these accusations after two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers were sacked following an internal pressure group’s demands that PTI get rid of “corrupt elements”.
According to members of opposition parties, PTI had promised to end corruption and nepotism but failed to officially identify the same in its own party, “fearing humiliation”. This is diametrically opposite of when the provincial government sacked Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) MPAs from the cabinet over dishonesty, complained the disgruntled opposition.
“The 14-member pressure group launched their movement against corruption in the cabinet. And soon after former minister for industries Shaukat Yousafzai, and ex-adviser to the chief minister on transport Yaseen Khalil were sacked, the group publicly said 80% of their grievances were addressed”, Awami National Party Senator Zahid told The Express Tribune.
“The nation remembers his (Imran Khan) first speech when he said he will never lie to them. But even though his own party members identified the two cabinet members as indulging in corruption, they were officially removed for ‘bad performance’ – this suggests Imran Khan has lied,” said Zahid.
Sikandar Sherpao, QWP’s parliamentary leader in the K-P Assembly, also agreed with this interpretation. “This shows double standards on part of the PTI,” claimed Sherpao.
“PTI’s disgruntled members publicly said they will not tolerate corruption which was why the two cabinet members were removed. However, whenever Imran Khan faces criticism, he creates issues to divert public attention.”
According to Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader Muhammad Ali Shah, this incident was meant to save face. “See, it all happened because of the pressure group which pinpointed corrupt elements. As far as I know, two more will be leaving the cabinet and I wonder what would be the official charges against them,” said Shah.
However, Adviser to Prime Minsiter Nawaz Sharif Amir Muqam claimed there were a number of other PTI members in the provincial assembly who indulged in corrupt practices. But, he added, the PTI leadership did a wise job by removing only those who would put up least resistance.
The official notification on the removal of two cabinet members stated ‘bad performance’ as a reason for the dismissal.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 5th, 2014.