Reshuffle in KP cabinet likely

PESHAWAR: The top leadership of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reportedly decided to reshuffle the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, sources told The News on Friday.

“In the first phase, some portfolios of the provincial ministers and advisors to the chief minister are likely to be changed. In the second phase, if they don’t deliver, they would be ousted from the cabinet and new people would be given the opportunity to serve,” a senior PTI leader in Peshawar told The News.

Pleading anonymity, he said Prime Minister Imran Khan had interacted with his close aides in the party from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and sought their opinion about performance of the cabinet members.

The prime minister no doubt has so many tasks to do, but he is well aware of the people in his party and their activities in KP and Punjab governments. He is the first prime minister who can be reached by senior and junior party activists,” said the PTI leader.

He avoided mention of the ministers whose portfolios are likely to be changed. However, he added that the prime minister had never received any positive news about health and education as well as mineral department.

“It is no more a secret that whatever was achieved by our previous PTI government in the health and education sectors had now been wasted. I personally know a lot of time was given to some of the ministers to improve their performance by ensuring merit and transparency in selection of key positions and transfer and postings,” said the party leader.

He said PM Imran Khan had already held discussions with his close aides in the party from KP and is expected to make certain important decisions during his visit to Peshawar today (Saturday).

According to the PTI sources, the prime minister will also approve names of some lawmakers from the tribal districts to be adjusted in the provincial cabinet. They said Mahmood Khan will continue as chief minister even though changes in the cabinet are now on the way.

The reshuffling in the KP cabinet was announced by the senior PTI leadership a few months ago, but it never happened.