Ex-General Alam Khattak may replace Mahtab as KP governor

NOWSHERA: The government may appoint Defence Secretary Lieutenant General (R) Mohammad Alam Khattak as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, sources told The News on Thursday.

The sources said that initially three names, including Secretary Defence Lt Gen (R) Alam Khattak, former chief minister Pir Sabir Shah and Senator Lt Gen (R) Salahuddin Tirmizi were shortlisted for the office of governor.

However, the sources in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) said that Tirmizi, who belongs to Mansehra district, may be dropped from the list as the party could not retain the Senate seat due to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s majority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The sources said the military leadership had given green signal for appointment of Alam Khattak as governor and his name will be finalized if Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif gives his consent.

It was learnt that the PML-N leaders, including the outgoing governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan wanted Pir Sabir Shah as the governor. Sabir Shah isn’t holding any official position as he lost in the 2013 general election from his native Haripur to a PTI candidate.

The sources said that senior PML-N leadership had agreed to the military leadership’s suggestion and may appoint Alam Khattak as governor on the prime minister’s return from abroad.Alam Khattak was appointed secretary defence when Lt Gen (R) Asif Yasin Malik completed his tenure in 2014.

Lt Gen (R) Alam Khattak has served on key positions in the military including corps commander Quetta, Inspector General Frontier Corps (FC) in both Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and also as chief of logistics at the Pakistan Army’s GHQ.

He played vital role in restoration of peace in Balochistan before the general election in 2013 as Corps Commander Quetta.After assuming charge of the secretary defence, Alam Khattak played his role in strengthening the civil-military relations. He interacted with his counterparts in the US, India, China, Turkey and Iran.

Alam Khattak hails from Dag Ismailkhel village in Nowshera and his family is known in the area as “family of majors”.  His brother Daud Khattak served as District Nazim Nowshera in the past.