PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and leader of opposition Maulana Lutfur Rehman on Sunday faced embarrassing situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly after parliamentary leaders of different parties criticised them for not consulting them about nominating the caretaker chief minister.

According to reports, name of Manzoor Afridi has been finalised by the chief minister and leader of the opposition for the slot of caretaker chief minister of the province.

Parliamentary leader of ANP Sardar Hussain Babak said in the assembly that leader of opposition Maulana Lutfur Rehman was representing entire opposition benches not only his party, JUI-F. “We were not expecting this type of attitude from the opposition leader,” he said.

He said that the opposition leader took very important decision without consulting a single party of the opposition. He added that the name of a rich businessman was finalised to become caretaker chief minister.

“That person is neither a retired government servant nor a judge and politician but only a rich man. What the poor seasoned politicians would do if the billionaire and millionaire non-political people become senators and chief ministers,” said Mr Babak.

He alleged that there were reports that chief minister and JUI-F leaders had taken money for nominating a little known person for the slot of caretaker chief minister.

QWP parliamentary leader Sikanadar Sherpao also complained that no one had consulted him over the issue. PPP parliamentary leader Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha and PML-N leader Aorangzeb Nalotha also expressed the same concerns in their debate on the issue.

Responding to the criticism, Maulana Luftur Rehman said that parliamentary leaders of the opposition parties should trust in him.

“I have asked each parliamentary leader if their parties have names for the caretaker chief ministers but none of them provided any name,” he said.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that the name of Manzoor Afridi was not yet finalized for the slot of caretaker chief minister.

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.
Concerning measures
Updated 03 Nov, 2024

Concerning measures

The govt must seek political input and consensus on the changes it is seeking to make and be open about its intentions.
Short-lived relief?
03 Nov, 2024

Short-lived relief?

POLICYMAKERS must be jumping with joy. At the close of the first quarter of FY25, the budget posted a consolidated...
Brisk spread
03 Nov, 2024

Brisk spread

THE surge in polio cases has reached distressing levels with a tally of 45 last reported, after two cases emerged in...