KP CM seeks resignation from two cabinet members

PESHAWAR: KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has sought resignation from two cabinet members, including Minister for Social Welfare Dr Hisham Inamullah Khan and Adviser to Chief Minister on Revenue Qalandar Khan Lodhi.

“There are multiple reasons for their removal but right now I cannot disclose them,” a senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) told The News. Two other senior PTI leaders also confirmed the development to The News and claimed that two prominent PTI leaders holding key positions were behind Dr Hisham Inamullah’s removal.

“They used to instigate Prime Minister Imran Khan against Dr Hisham Inamullah. They got his portfolio changed as health minister but they have now succeeded to kick him out of the cabinet,” a party leader told The News on condition of anonymity.

According to sources close to the chief minister, a cabinet member on Monday conveyed the message of the chief minister to Dr Hisham Inamullah and Qalandar Lodhi to send in their resignations within two days or else they would be de-notified.

Dr Hisham Inamullah belongs to Lakki Marwat district and is a close relative of Saifullah brothers. Dr Hisham was addressing a gathering in Lakki Marwat, where a large number of activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam announced joining PTI when he got a message from Minister for Local Government Akbar Ayub Khan.

“He had no idea of what was cooking up as he praised Prime Minister Imran Khan and PTI and vowed to sweep the next election in Lakki Marwat,” a party activist present at the gathering told The News by phone.

He said he noticed that the message hurt him, but he didn’t react in public. It was at the same gathering where he raised some issues related to the attitude of Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Ali Amin Gandapur and its negative impact on the PTI’s image in the southern districts.

There were widespread speculations that Ali Amin Gandapur was allegedly using his influence to get a berth in the provincial cabinet for his brother.

Qalandar Khan Lodhi, another cabinet member who has been asked to submit his resignation, is a senior politician from Abbottabad. He had contested the 2018 general election in an independent capacity and joined the PTI after winning the seat.

Initially, he was made minister for food but was later appointed as an adviser to the chief minister on revenue. Prior to his joining PTI, the elderly politician was associated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. He had won the 2013 general election as an independent candidate and joined the PML-N subsequently.

This correspondent tried to talk to the two cabinet members about the issue but Dr Hisham Inamullah was not available on phone. While a personal assistant to Qalandar Lodhi told The News that he was not able to talk to the media as he had called a meeting to discuss some matters.

Kamran Bangash, a spokesman for the KP government, as usual, avoided offering comments. His phone was answered by someone claiming to be his assistant. He said Kamran Bangash was in a meeting, and wasn’t in a position to talk to the media.