After the swearing-in of Ali Amin Gandapur as the new Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, deliberations on the formation of the provincial cabinet have reached the final stage.
Various names are being floated for potential ministerial posts, with the chief minister expected to seek the approval of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder President Imran Khan today.
According to sources close to the chief minister’s office, the consultation process to form the cabinet has been completed. It has emerged that the final decision regarding cabinet members will rest with Imran Khan, with the CM expected to meet him today.
Several new faces are expected to join the cabinet, reflecting a mix of experience and fresh talent. Aqibullah, Zahir Shah, Abdul Salam, Meena Khan and Pakhtun Yar are among the leading candidates for ministerial posts. Zahidullah, Aftab Afridi and Asif Khan are also being considered for inclusion in the provincial cabinet.
Apart from this, notables such as Mushtaq Ghani, Taj Mohammad Tarand and Arshad Ayub are also being considered for the cabinet, adding further diversity to the list of potential candidates. The names of Khaleequr Rehman, Fazal Shakoor and Anwar Zeb are also doing the rounds in political circles.
Apart from this, the list also includes Shakeel Khan, Anwar Khan and Humayun Khan. Moreover, Taimur Jhagra and Kamran Bangash, despite losing the election, may be appointed as advisers.
Apart from finalizing the cabinet members, the chief minister is expected to decide on advisers, assistants, parliamentary secretaries and other key posts in the provincial administration.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has announced his decision not to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Shehbaz Sharif as Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Addressing reporters at the provincial assembly, Gandapur expressed reservations about the legitimacy of the Prime Minister’s mandate. He highlighted the absence of any evidence to show that the Prime Minister was elected with the correct mandate and raised concerns about the electoral process.
Gandapur emphasized that the Prime Minister’s mandate was not supported by Form 45, a key document in the election process. He argued that under such circumstances it would be inappropriate to participate in the swearing-in ceremony.
In addition, the CM revealed plans to prioritize the formation of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, hinting at an upcoming meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan for further discussions on the matter. In addition, he announced his intention to visit Adiala prison tomorrow and meet Khan, signaling continued political negotiations.
Responding to queries regarding Maryam Nawaz’s recent statements on fighting corruption, Gandapur refrained from giving a definitive answer, saying he could not comment on the matter at this time.
In a parting note, he directed criticism at the Nawaz family, urging them to first account for alleged corruption worth billions before drawing “red lines”. He called for transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to the alleged embezzlement of billions of rupees.
