Mushtaq Ghani rejects ex-minister’s allegations against CM

Says KP govt to file
defamation suit against Ziaullah Afridi

PESHAWAR: Spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, Mushtaq Ahmed Ghani, on Monday rejected the corruption allegations levelled against Chief Minster Pervez Khattak by former provincial minister Ziaullah Afridi and said the provincial government would file a defamation suit against him.

Speaking at a press conference, Mushtaq Ghani denied the chief minister’s involvement in the affairs of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ehtesab Commission (KPEC).Ziaullah Afridi, who was arrested by the KPEC on corruption charges in July, was released on bail by the Peshawar High Court in October.

He addressed a press conference on Saturday and alleged that the chief minister had influence over the KPEC and had used it to victimise him. Mushtaq Ghani said that Ziaullah Afridi also appeared in a TV programme after his press conference and levelled baseless charges against the chief minister and the KPEC.

He reminded that Ziaullah Afridi remained part of the provincial cabinet and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly when both the bodies approved the setting up of KPEC.“Why had he chosen to remain silent then and is now making baseless allegations against the chief minister?” Mushtaq Ghani asked.

Mushtaq Ghani, who is also Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information and Higher Education, said that a search and scrutiny committee was responsible for the appointments in the KPEC.

He said someone having objections on the process should have voiced his concerns in the cabinet or the assembly, but Ziaullah Afridi did not raise his voice at both the forums. Mushtaq Ghani said this issue had been in the court since the time of Ziaullah Afridi’s arrest and it was sub-judice. “Discussing this issue in public amounted to contempt of court,” he stressed.

He said Ziaullah Afridi had been expelled from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and it didn’t suit him to wear the party’s cap. Mushtaq Ghani said the PTI chief Imran Khan was not ready to forgive anyone indulging in corruption and malpractices. He maintained that no one could use the KPEC for his own purposes.

He said that Ziaullah Afridi should avoid indulging in mud-slinging against the provincial government and instead focus on his case. The KP government spokesman said that if Ziaullah Afridi had proof against the chief minister he should move the National Accountability Bureau if he had no faith in the KPEC.

Mushtaq Ghani said Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had decided to file defamation suit against Ziaullah Afridi. “The chief minister is consulting his lawyers and exploring other available legal options as well,” he added.

To a question about the appointment of the new director general of the KPEC, Mushtaq Ghani said the members of the search and scrutiny committee were trying to arrive at a consensus on the issue.