An unsteady house: Two more cabinet members to be shown the door

PTI official says chief minister waiting for NAB to complete investigation.

PESHAWAR:

Following the recent dismissal of two members of the provincial cabinet, as many members are now expected to be removed ahead of the budget session, sources within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) revealed on Sunday.

According to party insiders, Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak has sought some time from the disgruntled PTI legislators who formed a pressure group earlier this year to remove corrupt elements from the government. It is believed that Khattak is waiting for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to take action against two ministers who are allegedly involved in corruption.

“Once NAB takes action against the two cabinet members, it will provide some confidence as well as room for the chief minister to remove them over charges of corruption,” said a disgruntled lawmaker, adding this is why they have been asked to wait by the CM.

Requesting not to be named, lawmakers of the pressure group told The Express Tribune they had been elected after making promises to the public that they would not tolerate corruption and nepotism and before they are questioned by their voters, they have to remove the corrupt elements from their ranks.

“These (removal of the two cabinet members) might be assumptions and I cannot comment on that, but one thing is for sure, PTI will never compromise on corruption. We will end it at any cost,” said PTI provincial spokesperson and MNA Ayesha Gulalai.

“Our party leader (Imran Khan) started the mission of ending corruption from the country. We have stood against the corrupt elements not only to accomplish our mission but also to make it an example for other political parties,” said another disgruntled PTI lawmaker.

On Saturday, NAB Additional Director Tariq Mohammad Khan said during a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club that the anti-corruption body was investigating a cabinet member who had also been part of the previous government. He said after completing the investigation, NAB would take prompt action against the individual.

Earlier, two cabinet members, former minister for health Shaukat Yousafzai and chief minister’s adviser on transport Yasin Khan Khalil, were removed from the cabinet over what was termed ‘bad performance’ by the government. The move had come after disgruntled members pressured the leader of the house to take action against corrupt elements within his ranks.

The 14-member group of disgruntled PTI MPAs brought names of several party members to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s notice during a meeting in April. They had demanded that those bringing a bad name to the party should be removed from the cabinet.

The pressure group also voiced disagreement over the reshuffle in the provincial cabinet after five new ministers, three advisers and as many special assistants to the chief minister were inducted in March.

Counter accusations

Following his removal, Khalil had lashed out at the CM, stating he should have been given a chance to defend himself rather than being unceremoniously kicked out.

Khalil’s sacking had led to several of his supporters taking to the streets and demanding his reinstatement. Protesters, from different areas of PK-5 – Khalil’s constituency in Peshawar, also set up a hunger strike camp.

Khalil had accused Khattak on the floor of the provincial assembly of favouring Nowshera district – the latter’s home constituency – in terms of doling out jobs and development projects.

However, despite having sacked two cabinet members, disgruntled lawmakers are still unhappy and allege the PTI chief resorted to selective justice by sparing PTI’s youth wing representative, who they accuse of corruption.

In November last year, the CM sacked two Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) ministers from the provincial cabinet on charges of corruption which was followed by QWP’s ouster from the coalition government.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2014.