ISLAMABAD: In response to the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) apprehensions about the interim cabinet in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), interim Chief Minister Azam Khan has taken the decision to de-notify his ministers tomorrow (Friday), as confirmed by provincial Information Minister Firdous Jamal Shah, Today.
Shah confirmed that he and 18 other ministers have handed in their resignations to the interim CM Azam. Furthermore, he indicated that an additional 8 ministers have a plan to submit their resignations tomorrow.
Shah further revealed that CM Azam personally requested the resignations during a tea gathering with his cabinet earlier today.
The minister said, “If other ministers do not submit their resignations, then they will be de-notified. CM will send the summary for de-notification of cabinet tomorrow.” He elaborated that the chief minister made this decision following receipt of the letter from the ECP regarding politically affiliated individuals within the cabinet.
In the previous month, the electoral authority instructed the KP caretaker CM to promptly “de-notify” ministers, advisers, and special assistants who were “engaged in politics.”
ECP Pushes for Unbiased Caretaker Government Amid Political Links
Secretary Omar Hamid Khan conveyed these instructions in a letter on behalf of the election organizing authority to the interim chief minister.
In the letter, the ECP provided the interim CM with a briefing on Article 218(3) and elucidated the role that the caretaker setup assumes in overseeing the elections.
The secretary stated in the letter, “The caretaker government including cabinet members, advisers, special assistants and other relevant functionaries can only provide an objective environment if they do not involve themselves in politics and election campaigns in violation of provisions of Section 230 (1)(d) and 2(g) of the Elections Act, 2017.”
The ECP expressed its disappointment over the observation that certain cabinet members had been “selected based on political associations.” It specifically mentioned the case of Shahid Khattak, the former interim transport minister, who stepped down due to his involvement in “political activities.”
The electoral body conveyed its regret regarding the “behavior” displayed by certain cabinet members, which it deemed to be “contrary to the fundamental essence” of the caretaker government as outlined in the Constitution and the Elections Act 2017.
“In view of the foregoing, the Election Commission has desired to request you while keeping the interim cabinet members at a minimum, to review the above said appointments (in light of the criteria as laid down in the above-said provisions of the Election Laws) and to de-notify such Ministers, Advisers and Special Assistants which are involved in politics immediately, so that free, fair and transparent elections are ensured for future,” the ECP added.
Numerous parties have raised complaints regarding the interim setup in KP. According to the reports , the caretaker cabinet is primarily composed of individuals either affiliated with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) or appointed by the party.
In July, criticism directed at Shahid Khan Khattak, former KP caretaker minister for transport, compelled him to submit his resignation following his address at a public gathering in the Nowshera district.
Back then, the ECP had also summoned the interim KP CM to dismiss Khattak from his position.
