Contrary to the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) leadership’s tall claims of streamlining the provincial affairs, its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has empowered at least four persons to deal with media.
During formation of government at the end of May and beginning of June, no one amongst the PTI elected MPAs was willing to assume the office of information minister keeping in view threats of militants. However, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, a journalist by profession, was asked by PTI Chief Imran Khan to look after the affairs of information ministry for the time being.
In the last week of July, Public Health Engineering Minister Shah Farman was notified as minister for information, public relations and culture. Shah Farman was also made provincial information secretary of the PTI. After notifying Shah Farman as information minister, the PTI central high command named another MPA Ishtyaq Urmar as the PTI provincial information secretary.
Two days back, a journalist namely Sheeraz Paracha had addressed a press conference introducing himself as Special Advisor to Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for media. Sheeraz Paracha had served national dailies in early 90’s. Later, he flew to the United Kingdom and shifted to CentralAsianRepublics thereafter. Paracha is considered among diehard workers of the Pakistan People’s Party and is known to PPP’s central and provincial leadership. However, he belongs to Nowshehra, native district of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.
After the posting of Sheeraz Paracha as special advisor to the chief minister, now the PTI government could be represented by at least four persons before media.
The chief minister has already adjusted his two blue-eyed against important offices – Dil Roz Khan has been made chief of complaint cells whereas Rafaqat Ullah Babar has been entrusted the portfolio of chief of investment body.