Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Communication and Works, Shakeel Ahmad Khan, has resigned, citing corruption and poor governance within the PTI-backed provincial government.
Shakeel submitted his resignation to KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. This decision follows a stern warning from PTI founder Imran Khan, issued from Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where he cautioned party members in KP about accountability for corruption and governance failures in their departments.
Following Khan’s directives, the PTI established a three-member committee to oversee corruption and governance issues in KP after the party took control after the February 2024 general elections.
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Khan’s decision to form this committee came after Minister Shakeel, during a jail visit, expressed concerns about embezzlement across various provincial departments. Sources indicate that Shakeel felt hindered by the corruption and mismanagement in the province and cited interference from CM Gandapur as a barrier to his effectiveness.
Shakeel accused the KP Chief Minister of compromising the government’s principles and promises to the public under external influences, which led to a departure from the party’s manifesto commitments to governance and integrity.
In response, CM Gandapur noted that he had not yet received Shakeel’s written resignation. He mentioned, “On the committee’s recommendation, a summary seeking to de-notify the minister has already been sent to the governor.” He added that he had signed and forwarded the summary to the governor the previous day.