PESHAWAR: Senior Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Shahram Khan Tarakai returned to the provincial cabinet on Thursday after eight months in the political wilderness.

Mr Shahram, who was sacked as a cabinet member in Jan this year along with senior minister Atif Khan and revenue minister Shakeel Khan allegedly for conspiring against Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, took oath as a minister at the Governor’s House here.

Governor Shah Farman also administered the oath to MPA from Bajaur district Anwar Zeb Khan as a minister.

A statement of the Governor’s House issued said Mr Farman congratulated the newly-inducted ministers and wished them success in the ‘discharge of responsibilities in the best public interest’.

The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, ministers Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Shaukat Yousafzai, Qalandar Lodhi and Sultan Mohammad Khan and senior government officials.

Bajaur MPA Anwar Zeb also takes oath as minister

Spokesman for the government Kamran Khan Bangash told Dawn that the portfolios of the two ministers had yet to be decided and a decision about it would be made by the chief minister in a ‘couple of days’.

Mr Shahram’s return to the cabinet took place after his meeting with the chief minister and the governor.

A source in the ruling PTI said the Mahmood-Shahram truce was facilitated by the governor and Shahram’s father, Senator Liaqat Khan Tarakai.

He claimed that the return of Shahram to the cabinet had finally driven a wedgebetween him and his longtime associate, Atif Khan.

The source claimed that Shahram had committed to doing the bidding of the chief minister and promised not to be part of the Atif camp.

He said Mr Tarakai was likely to get the health or elementary and secondary education portfolio.

There has been no minister for the health department since Mr Shahram was given the charge of the local government department on Jan over a week before his ultimate sacking.

The health portfolio is being held by finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra as an additional charge.

The education portfolio has been held by Akbar Ayub Khan.

The source said if Mr Shahram got the education department, Mr Ayub was likely to be given the charge of the communication and works department, which he had held until the Jan 15 reshuffle.

He claimed that former revenue minister Shakeel Khan was also approached to further isolate Mr Atif but he hadn’t made his mind for rapprochement.

Both Mr Atif and Mr Shakeel were not available for comments.

The trio was expelled from the provincial cabinet on Jan 26 following reports of a showdown between Mr Atif and Chief Minister Mahmood Khan during a cabinet meeting.

Both sides were quick to deny the showdown. However, the development soured their relationship and within days, all three ministers were sacked.

Female members of the treasury have failed to land a cabinet berth even in the latest expansion.

However, government spokesperson Kamran Bangash said cabinet seats were still available and the chief minister could appoint a woman to any of them.

He, however, ruled out any immediate cabinet expansion.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2020