Qaumi Watan Party to join provincial government

Provincial minister to withdraw defamation notice against Imran Khan

PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) will sign an agreement with the PTI-led provincial government on Tuesday (today) that will ensure its return to the treasury benches.

According to a party insider privy to the matter, four key provincial departments including home and tribal affairs, irrigation, mines and minerals and industries will be given to QWP. “According to the agreement, two ministers and as many special assistants will take the oath for their title within the next few days,” he added.

He said that QWP Provincial Chairman Sikandar Hayat Khan Sherpao and Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli will be given the irrigation and mines and mineral ministries, respectively, while Abdul Karim Khan of Tordher and Arshad Umarzai will be made special assistants in the government.

“QWP will officially join the provincial government this week,” the source confirmed. He added that after getting a green signal from PTI Chairman Imran Khan, the K-P government welcomed QWP into government. “Our party leader and former provincial minister Bakht Baidar Khan will also withdraw his defamation notice against Imran Khan,” the source revealed.

QWP has 10 MPAs in K-P Assembly, four of whom will soon get ministries and special assistants seats in the government.

After the 18th Amendment, the provincial cabinet must have 15 members, however, currently only 14 members exist. The chief minister said that one of the ministers left his position willingly.

K-P Speaker Asad Qaiser confirmed QWP’s entry into the provincial government. “The party’s central leadership will make the official announcement very soon,” Qaisar said. “A meeting was held between PTI and QWP and a consensus was reached,” he told The Express Tribune. “QWP has a better knowledge of parliamentary issues and wishes to jointly work on provincial autonomy and FATA reforms,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2015.