LAHORE, June 9: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has formally requested the Jamaat-e-Islami leadership to choose one of the three Khyber Pakhtunkhwa departments -- Health, Planning and Development and Local Bodies -- instead of insisting on education ministry of the provincial government, Dawn learnt reliably on Sunday.

The PTI had earlier offered three ministries — Finance, Education and Zakat & Ushr -- to the JI after the two parties formally agreed on a power-sharing formula in the KP. But it later denied education office to JI.

To avoid prolonging a deadlock on the issue, the JI senior leader Sirajul Haq met with the PTI chief Imran Khan here on Sunday in presence of KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak.

“In the meeting, the PTI leadership requested us not to insist on education ministry and select any of the three departments (local bodies, planning and development or health). Since the PTI leadership claimed to have worked a lot in the (KP’s) education sector, it asked us to accept its own minister for the provincial department,” JI Chief Syed Munawar Hasan told Dawn.

He said since his party believed in contributing in the KP government being an important coalition partner, it started thinking about the new PTI proposal.

“We are not fond of ministries. We just wanted the education office because of our experience during the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal government’s tenure in the province in the past. But the PTI’s fresh proposal is not bad as we can choose any of the three departments,” Mr Hasan added.

When asked about the JI’s choice, he said though the matter was still under consideration, health department would be a good option to pick. The JI had already run this department while being a part of MMA government in the province, he said.

He said since his party desired to work hard along with the PTI to set a precedent of good governance in the KP, such minor differences didn’t matter. Earlier, talking to the media, the CM Khattak said the KP cabinet would be announced within next couple of days.

“I think there is no issue between the two parties. We are here to serve the people and nothing more,” he added.

The JI leader Sirajul Haq said the issue related to education ministry would be resolved soon. “We are with the PTI for corruption-free and good governance in the KP. In this government, no minister will be allowed to live like a prince,” he added. He said those who wanted to create differences between the coalition partners in the KP would be disappointed. Later, Mr Haq called on the JI Ameer here at Mansoora and apprised him of his meeting with the PTI chairman.