Following the ousting of Shakeel Khan, the former Minister for Communications and Works in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, scrutiny has intensified on three additional ministries within the provincial government.
The Good Governance Committee is investigating misconduct allegations in the Education, Food, and Health departments. Zahid Shah Toru, the Provincial Minister for Food, has been summoned to provide a statement, with the Education Minister scheduled to follow.
Shakeel Khan’s removal sparked controversy, with PTI leader Atif Khan suggesting it resulted from a conspiracy linked to Khan’s revelations of corruption within various departments. Khan had previously reported to the PTI founder, alleging mismanagement and corruption, particularly concerning the financial handling by the Secretary of Communications and Works.
Details from Shakeel Khan’s written statement to the Good Governance Committee, which has now been disclosed, highlight concerning financial practices. He claimed that the Secretary of Communications and Works had disbursed 6.87 billion rupees for development projects. When questioned about a 10-20% commission on these projects, the Secretary purportedly indicated that the Chief Minister himself was closely overseeing the arrangements. Furthermore, Khan accused the Secretary of planning to allocate 200 million rupees to the Chief Minister under dubious contract pretences.
These revelations were part of Khan’s discussion with the PTI founder on July 31, where he presented evidence of the alleged corruption. In response to these developments, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Information Advisor, Barrister Saif, assured that the Good Governance Committee has independently reviewed Khan’s allegations and submitted their findings to the Chief Minister without external pressure. According to Barrister Saif, the actions taken against Shakeel Khan were based on solid evidence, emphasizing the integrity of the committee’s investigative process.
