PESHAWAR, May 31: Pervez Khattak of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was elected by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly here on Friday to head the first ever PTI government in the country’s history.
Addressing the assembly after his election, Mr Khattak spelt out his programme for ‘positive change’ and said the promises made by the party and its Chairman Imran Khan would be fulfilled.
He said people pinned high hopes on the PTI government and he would strive to come up to their expectations. He criticised drone attacks and said that terrorism and drones were among the main problems the country faced and the federal government must address them. He said his government would extend cooperation to the centre and expressed the hope that the PML-N government at the centre would adopt a clear policy on the issues (Details of speech on inside pages).
Later, Mr Khattak and two senior ministers of his cabinet — Sirajul Haque of Jamaat-i-Islami and Sikander Khan Sherpao of Qaumi Watan Party — were administered oath of office by Governor Shaukatullah.
The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Presidency’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, PTI’s Jehangir Tareen, newly elected PMAs and MNAs, diplomats and senior officials.
Sources said the provincial cabinet would be expanded soon and the names of expected ministers had been sent to Imran Khan for approval. During the election of the leader of the house, Mr Khattak, who was joint candidate of the PTI, JI, QWP and Awami Jamhuri Ittehad Pakistan, secured 84 and his opponent Maulana Lutfur Rehman of JUI-F 37 votes. The PPP and former president Musharraf’s All Pakistan Muslim League as well as two independent legislators voted for Mr Khattak.
The PML-N withdrew its candidate Wajeh-uz-Zaman in favour of Maulana Rehman shortly before the voting.
Born in Manki Sherif in district Nowshera, Mr Khattak, 63, studied at Aitchison College in Lahore. He entered active politics in 1983 and was elected MPA in 1988. He served as minister for industries and also as district Nazim of Nowshera.
He was elected MPA in 2008 on a ticket of the then PPP (Sherpao) and later joined the ANP-PPP coalition government and became minister for irrigation. Last year he quit the ministry and joined the PTI.
Mr Khattak contested the PTI intra-party elections against Asad Qaisar for the post of KP president but was defeated. He was appointed the party’s central general secretary.
Mr Khattak also won a National Assembly seat in the May 11 elections.