CM facing first challenge to his rule

PESHAWAR: The indiscipline in the ranks of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again surfaced as disgruntled provincial lawmakers have joined hands to bring Chief Minister Mahmood Khan under pressure to accept their demands.

This is something familiar. The PTI has been facing indiscipline in recent years. During the PTI’s previous stint in office, the then Chief Minister Pervez Khattak too had to contend with a ‘forward bloc’ of unhappy MPAs, who levelled allegations of corruption against their own government. Almost all of them were punished by denying them development funds and other perks. Subsequently, they were denied PTI tickets for contesting the 2018 general election. Those who still contested the polls as independent candidates or on the ticket of other parties fared poorly and lost badly.

The PTI with its two-thirds majority in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly has such a large number of MPAs that it is a challenge to keep all of them happy. Though the chief minister has the powers and the resources to appease these lawmakers, he cannot induct all or most of the aspirants in the cabinet.

Mahmood Khan faced a difficult time when he changed the portfolios of some of the allegedly non-performing ministers. He knew his limitations and didn’t change the portfolios of influential ministers, particularly those considered close to the party head, Prime Minister Imran Khan. He didn’t sack any minister, but changing their portfolios also didn’t go well with the ministers who had become well-entrenched during the last one and a half year.

It is generally believed that Mahmood Khan isn’t a strong chief minister compared with some of his predecessors. Soft-spoken and mild in manner, he doesn’t come across as someone who would wield the stick and get things done. He is genial and welcoming and is keen to oblige those seeking a genuine favour. It is possible some people are exploiting his friendly ways for their vested interests.

Mahmood Khan was made the chief minister by Imran Khan and only he can remove him. The party head didn’t seek the opinion of the PTI lawmakers or even senior party leaders nominating him for the prestigious job. It was a surprise for even Mahmood Khan was made the chief minister ahead of other stronger contenders such as Pervez Khattak, Mohammad Atif Khan and Asad Qaiser.

As it was solely Imran Khan’s decision to make Mahmood Khan the chief minister, removing him would be an admission of the fact that he made a wrong choice. The prime minister is unlikely to do so at this stage. He is also under pressure to replace Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, who was too was Imran Khan’s surprise choice out of nowhere. So for now, Mahmood Khan is likely to stay as the chief minister, though he would be told to improve his performance, take along his cabinet members in decision-making and respond actively to the needs of the PTI MPAs.