PESHAWAR, Nov14: The Qaumi Watan Party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chairman Sikandar Hayat Sherpao alleged here on Thursday that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan’s interference in the work of ministries allocated to his party and forcing the ministers to make illegal appointments had led to the break up of the two parties’ partnership in the provincial government.

Speaking at a press conference at his Hayatabad residence, he said the QWP would play its role in the opposition for the welfare of Pakhtuns and development of the province. “We never run after ministries but others, including the PTI, approached us with offers of ministries. We honoured its mandate and joined the coalition for the sake of the soil of Pakhtuns,” he said.

Formally announcing his resignation as provincial senior minister, he said one example of interference was a recommendation letter sent by Imran Khan to him for the appointment of an engineer, Khushhal Khan, son of Zareef Khan, as chief executive of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil and Gas Company on priority basis.

“I was sent the letter in July, but I turned it down because I thought it was in violation of merit. We have many such things to present to the media. The two removed ministers, Ibrar Hussain and Bakht Baidar, will also divulge more information in separate press conferences after Sunday.”

Mr Sherpao said the PTI chief had failed to run the affairs of the province. He had given an ambitious agenda of curbing corruption, but could not implement it and as a result he could not face the people. So he had made the QWP a scapegoat, he added.

“Had he possessed any proof of corruption against any of our ministers he was bound to tell us the names and specific reasons, but the chief minister did not dare share any information with us,” he said. “The chief minister did not even inform us verbally and the news about sacking the ministers came to us through media,” he said.

The QWP leader said the PTI-led government lacked comprehension of the complex problems of the province. “Time and again the PTI leaders were asked to address the worsening law and order situation and militancy, but barring rhetoric they did not take any concrete steps.”

The former senior minister said no consultation was done on political and administrative matters.

He also rejected a notion that Imran Khan had twice warned the QWP about alleged involvement of its ministers in corruption. “He should produce in black and white whatever the government has against our ministers. We had already declared that our party had zero tolerance for corruption and our politics were aimed at serving the oppressed Pakhtuns,” Mr Sherpao said.

He said his party had repeatedly tried to draw the attention of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak to its grievances but he had not taken the calls seriously. As a last resort the QWP had boycotted the provincial assembly session and even a cabinet meeting a couple of days ago to raise the level of protest so that the PTI might realise the gravity of the situation.

The QWP leader also opposed the PTI chief’s politics of deadlines on different issues, including drone strikes and Nato supplies, and confrontation with the centre. Imran Khan also frequently took a ‘U-turn’ on issues, he alleged.

The law and order situation was going from bad to worse, but PTI leaders and ministers were unable to take steps for the restoration of peace and were unable even to attend funerals law enforcement agencies personnel and their own MPAs due to threats, Sikandar Sherpao observed.

“Had Imran any will to stop corruption, he would have focussed on legislation against corruption, but he did not do anything.”

Mr Sherpao said governments could not be run by remote control from Bani Gala or through unelected people.