Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cabinet Sworn In Amid Delays and Criticism

Peshawar, Oct 31 (PTI) Ten members of the newly established cabinet of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were sworn in on Friday, finalizing the province's government transition. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi administered the oath of office to the members selected by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. Alongside the chief minister, the ceremony was attended by Provincial Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, members of both the national and provincial assemblies, party leaders, and other dignitaries. The newly appointed cabinet ministers include Meena Khan, Fazal Shakoor Khan, Faisal Tarakai, Aqibullah, Shafi Jan, Khaliqur Rehman, Dr. Amjad, Riaz Khan, Fakhar Jehan, and Taj Muhammad Tarand. Muzzammil Aslam and Taj Muhammad have been appointed as advisers, while Shafi Jan has been designated as a special assistant to the chief minister in the new formation. Facing pressure to announce the cabinet, Chief Minister Afridi had previously stated that the new cabinet would be announced following a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. Due to several failed attempts to meet the incarcerated former prime minister and party founder, Khan’s sister later communicated to the newly appointed chief minister that he had “complete authority” to form the provincial cabinet. The opposition members in the provincial assembly have criticized the ruling party for the delays in forming the cabinet, arguing that government operations had stalled. PTI’s provincial unit had also insisted that those members of the previous cabinet with “corruption allegations and a bad reputation” should be excluded.

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