Peshawar: Justice (R) Arshad Hussain Shah was sworn in as the new caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday.
KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali took the oath of office at a ceremony held at the Governor’s House. Participants in the event included Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Inspector General of Police, Advocate General, former provincial ministers and other dignitaries.
Earlier today, the governor signed a summary of Shah’s appointment as the province’s new interim chief executive.
This development has taken place after Muhammad Azam Khan — who was the caretaker Chief Minister — died of a heart attack the day before.
Following the dissolution of the Provincial Assembly by the government led by the Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI), the Prime Minister was appointed Interim Chief Minister in January this year.
Following his death, former KP chief minister Mahmoud Khan and opposition leader Akram Khan Durrani held a consultative meeting to discuss the appointment of a new provincial chief executive.
Both leaders finalized the king’s name and sent a summary to the governor for approval.
Shah from Abbottabad was serving as Minister of Law in the cabinet of former Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan. Prior to joining the Cabinet, he was also the Chief Justice of Gilgit Baltistan from 2019-2022.
Before their meeting, Durrani said that after the death of Azam, KP had drowned in crisis. He added that the appointment issue would be resolved today.
“I will discuss the appointment of the Interim Chief Minister in preparation. I will also convince Mahmoud Khan because no one rejects my suggestions, ‘ ‘ he said.
On Saturday, Governor Ali wrote a letter to Mahmoud and Durrani asking them to decide the name of the provincial post.
‘Will SC will assist the ECP in conducting elections in accordance with the guidelines ’
Talking to Geo News after taking the oath of office, The Interim Chief Minister expressed his commitment to assist the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in holding free and fair elections as directed by the Supreme Court.
He added that all matters of the province would be handled in accordance with the law.
Shah added that a new cabinet would be formed after consultation with all stakeholders. Answering a question, the newly appointed chief executive said he would focus on improving the law and order situation in the province.
Do not accept PTIC
Meanwhile، PTI leader Zahir Khan Toro said the party would not accept the new chief minister whose appointment was decided by the former chief minister and the opposition leader.
Toro said he would go to court if Khan and Durrani appointed the new chief minister. He further stressed that the issue should be resolved constitutionally, saying that the governor should not make his own formula.
“The new chief ministers elected by Mahmoud Khan, Ghulam Ali and Akram Khan Durrani will be political,” he said, He added that the level playing field is not expected from the elected chief executive.