KP Minister Shakeel Ahmad
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Communication and Works, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, resigned from his position on Thursday, citing allegations of corruption and poor governance against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed provincial government.
Shakeel submitted his resignation to KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, marking a significant development in the ongoing political turmoil within the province.
Shakeel’s resignation follows a stern warning issued by PTI founder Imran Khan from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Khan, who remains incarcerated, had recently cautioned members of his party’s government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that they would be held accountable for corruption and governance issues within their departments.
This warning came as part of a broader effort by the PTI to address and rectify allegations of mismanagement and corruption within its ranks.
In response to Khan’s directive, PTI established a three-member committee to oversee corruption and governance issues in the KP province, which has been under PTI’s control since the February 2024 general elections.
The committee was formed after Shakeel Ahmad Khan, during a meeting with Khan in jail, expressed concerns about embezzlement and mismanagement in various government departments.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Shakeel Ahmad Khan felt hindered in performing his official duties due to widespread corruption and inadequate governance in the province.
He also accused Chief Minister Gandapur of interfering in his department’s operations, claiming that this interference was undermining his effectiveness.
Shakeel alleged that Gandapur was acting on the directions of others and suggested that the provincial government had deviated from its principles and the promises made to the public.
Shakeel’s resignation highlights his dissatisfaction with the current state of governance and corruption within the KP government, asserting that these issues have compromised the party’s manifesto and public trust.
However, in a response to Shakeel’s resignation, Chief Minister Gandapur clarified that his office had not yet received Shakeel’s written resignation.
Gandapur noted that a summary recommending Shakeel’s de-notification had already been prepared and sent to the governor for approval, reflecting the administration’s response to the resignation and the ongoing issues raised by the minister.
The situation underscores a period of significant internal strife within the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as the party grapples with allegations of corruption and governance failures, and seeks to address these challenges amid increasing scrutiny and political pressure.
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