KP Cabinet
The finalization of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) cabinet is contingent upon the approval of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) imprisoned founder, Imran Khan, as stated by newly-elected KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Scheduled to discuss the formation of the cabinet with Imran Khan on March 4, Gandapur revealed that the list of potential cabinet members includes more than 15 names, featuring figures such as Mushtaq Ghani, Khaleeq ur Rehman, and Aqib Ullah Khan.
This development follows the swearing-in of newly-elected provincial legislature members in a tumultuous inaugural assembly session, where Mushtaq Ghani, now the former speaker, administered the oath.
The assembly proceeded to elect Babar Saleem Khan Swati as the speaker and Suriya Bibi as the deputy speaker, followed by the election of the province’s chief minister, Ali Amin Gandapur.
Gandapur’s victory speech, delivered after securing 90 votes against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Dr Ibadullah Khan’s 16 votes, featured a demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja, accusing him of playing a role in manipulating the election results.
Addressing his plans for KP, Gandapur emphasized a focus on increasing the province’s revenue without burdening the poor. He pledged initiatives such as providing property rights, inheritance rights, and free legal assistance to women.
The CM also committed to investing in trade and business development for job creation, promising health cards for the public from the first day of Ramadan and the formation of a commission for overseas Pakistanis.
Following the February 8 polls, PTI-backed independent candidates, now aligned with the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), emerged as the dominant force with around 90 seats in the 145-member house, allowing the PTI to form the provincial government for the third consecutive term.
Other parties securing seats include JUI-F with seven, PML-N with five, PPP with four, PTI-P with two, and ANP with one seat.
