Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Communication and Works Minister Shakeel Ahmad was de-notified from his cabinet position on Friday amid escalating internal conflicts within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) over allegations of corruption and irregularities among the province’s leadership.
Mr. Shakeel claimed he resigned from the cabinet, with his “resignation letter” circulating on social media around midnight. However, the provincial government maintained that the minister was removed based on the recommendation of a three-member accountability committee formed by the chief minister, following orders from the imprisoned PTI founder, Imran Khan.
A government spokesperson stated that a summary for the minister’s dismissal was sent to the governor for approval.
In his resignation letter, addressed to the governor, Mr. Shakeel expressed his disappointment in resigning from the cabinet, citing that the provincial government had compromised on the core principles and commitments made by PTI during the election campaign.
Mr. Shakeel criticized the government’s retreat from its anti-establishment stance, which he said had been a key factor in PTI’s election victory. He also condemned the bad governance and widespread corruption within the provincial government, arguing that it had tarnished PTI’s image among its supporters.
He declared his willingness to face accountability on all fronts and mentioned his efforts to voice concerns against injustice, mismanagement, and corruption in line with PTI’s manifesto. He also stated his intention to explain the reasons for his resignation in detail on the floor of the house.
In contrast, the provincial government’s spokesperson, Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, explained that the accountability committee was established to investigate corruption allegations against government members. He stated that after thorough investigations, the committee recommended Mr. Shakeel’s removal, and a summary was sent to the governor.
On August 2, Mr. Shakeel, along with Barrister Saif, held a press conference issuing a stern warning against corruption within the province’s administration. This event followed Mr. Shakeel’s visit to Imran Khan in Adiala prison.
Sources familiar with the committee’s proceedings indicated that the allegations against Mr. Shakeel were substantiated, and the committee’s findings were presented to the chief minister and would be reviewed by Imran Khan.
However, some PTI leaders defended Mr. Shakeel, expressing dissatisfaction with his removal and questioning the composition of the accountability committee, suggesting bias in its formation.
This incident marks the second time Mr. Shakeel has been removed from the cabinet. In January 2020, he was sacked along with two other ministers for allegedly conspiring against the then chief minister, Mahmood Khan.
Former senior minister Mohammad Atif Khan voiced support for Mr. Shakeel, labeling him as one of the most honest individuals he has worked with and hinting at a conspiracy against him, promising to reveal more details at a later time.
