KP, Balochistan govts stumbling

The PTI formed a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and the Centre after the 2018 general elections. The party has recently being facing problems in both provinces and the federal government after differences appeared between the lawmakers.

In the latest development, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has sacked three ministers of his cabinet after they attempted to create a pressure group against him. Atif Khan, Shahram Khan Tarakai, and Shakeel Ahmed were dismissed after reports emerged that they were setting up a forward bloc against their own chief minister. The sports and tourism minister, Atif Khan, was himself a strong candidate for the coveted chief minister’s slot after the 2018 elections. The PTI became the first party in the history of the province to form a government for the second consecutive time.

The cracks have widened in the provincial setup and the chief minister faces even greater challenges. The cabinet was shuffled earlier this month which was not appreciated by several ministers. Atif Khan was displeased that his recommendations were shunned and his close aide Shahram Tarakai lost the local government portfolio. The minister was mustering support against the chief minister before they were shown the door.

The PTI was quick to deny the meeting but the rift has been exposed. It needs to be seen if the chief minister will keep the cabinet intact. Prime Minister Imran Khan would have to interfere as the PTI cannot risk losing the KP government where it emerged from and claims to be responsible for the growth and development of the province.

In Balochistan, where PTI is a minority part of the government, Speaker Qudoos Bizenjo has submitted a privilege motion against his own party leaders include Chief Minister Jam Kamal and two others. He accused them of passing uncivilised remarks about him. Bizenjo is a former chief minister and was a member of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) core committee. The party emerged from oblivion to form the government in the province.

Now cracks have emerged within the Balochistan setup also as Bizenjo claims that majority of BAP leaders and MPAs were against Jam Kamal’s government who is incapable of running the affairs of the provincial government and even the party. The speaker wants change in Balochistan as well.

This creates even greater challenges for prime minister Imran Khan who is making efforts to salvage the government of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. After Punjab, the governments in KP and Balochistan are on shaky grounds and are likely to collapse if efforts are not taken to placate the disgruntled lawmakers.