PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government expelled Amjad Khan Afridi, the adviser to chief minister on sports, tourism, culture, archaeology, museums and culture from the cabinet on Thursday.

In a notification issued here on Thursday evening, the administration department said that in pursuance of provisions contained in Sub-section 2 of Section 3 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisers and Special Assistants to Chief Minister (Appointment) Act, 1989 the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was pleased to dispense with the services of Amjad Khan Afridi. “On his removal, he has ceased to hold the office with immediate effect,” it added.

Just minutes ago Amjad Khan Afridi, looking calm, was proudly enumerating the initiatives he had taken at the culture department while talking to a gathering at a paintings exhibition in Nishtar Hall. He said that he revived cultural activities in the province, affected by militancy. He did not look perturbed about the impending notification of his removal from his office.

On November 8, PTI chairman Imran Khan had expelled Amjad Khan Afridi from the party over his conduct in the local government elections that led to defeat of the ruling party in the province.

According to a notification issued by PTI, the committee was chaired by Shah Mehmood Qureshi whose decisions were approved by Imran Khan.

Interestingly, two other party members -- Azam Swati and Yasin Khalil -- were only served with notices for working against the party policy in the local government elections.

However, since Amjad Khan Afridi was accused of fielding candidates in the polls against the PTI nominees thus he was expelled from party and cabinet as punishment for violating the party discipline.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2015