ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued a directive to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan. The directive instructs him to immediately “de-notify” ministers, advisers, and special assistants involved in politics.
The ECP’s letter, sent by Secretary Omar Hamid Khan on behalf of the election organizing authority, emphasized the role of the caretaker setup in conducting elections and cited Article 218(3) of the Constitution.
The commission expressed regret over noticing that some cabinet members were appointed based on their political affiliations. The letter pointed to the example of Shahid Khattak, the former interim transport minister. The ECP found him engaging in “political activities,” leading him to resign.
The ECP instructed cabinet members, advisers, and special assistants in the caretaker government to refrain from involvement in politics or election campaigns. It contradicts the spirit of the caretaker government as per the Elections Act 2017, stated by the election organizing authority.
To ensure free, fair, and transparent elections in the future, the ECP requested the interim CM to review the appointments. They urged the de-notification of ministers, advisers, and special assistants involved in politics while minimizing the interim cabinet members.
Several parties have raised concerns about the composition of the interim setup in KP. The majority of caretaker cabinet members have affiliations with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) or their appointees, leading to criticism. Shahid Khan Khattak, the former transport minister, had to resign after addressing a public meeting and facing criticism, prompting the ECP to call for his removal.
