PESHAWAR: A 15-member cabinet was sworn in for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday at the Governor House, with Governor KP Haji Ghulam Ali administering the oath. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur attended the ceremony.
The new cabinet comprises both seasoned lawmakers from the previous cabinet, such as Arshad Ayub, Shakil Ahmad, Fazal Shakoor, and Khaleeq Ur Rehman, as well as members from the previous assembly who have been appointed to ministries. Among them are Muhammad Zahir Shah, Fazal Hakeem, Pakhtoon Yar Khan, Aqib Ullah Khan, Nazeer Ahmed Abbasi, and Shakeel Ahmad Khan.
Additionally, newcomers to the assembly have been included in the cabinet, including Meena Khan, Faisal Khan Tarakai, Muhammad Sajjad, Muhammad Adnan Qadri, and Aftab Alam Khan Afridi.
The appointment of five advisors, including Syed Fakhar Jahan, Muzamil Aslam, Mashal Azam, and Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, reflects a commitment to incorporating diverse expertise and perspectives in governance.
Notably, Arshad Ayub is the brother of former provincial minister and current MPA Akbar Ayub, while Aaqibullah is the brother of former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser. Faisal Khan Tarakai is the younger brother of PTI senior leader and former provincial minister Shahram Khan Tarakai.
Despite facing challenges post-May 9, most cabinet members have remained loyal to the party. However, it is noteworthy that Mushtaq Ghani, the most senior PTI parliamentarian, has not been included in the new KP cabinet. Ghani previously served as the Provincial Minister for Information and Higher Education in 2013 and as the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly from 2018 to January 2023.
