Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Governor Engineer Shaukatullah resigned on Tuesday with the KPK Assembly Speaker Asad Qaisar assuming office as the acting governor.
Official sources informed that Engineer Shaukatullah resigned on the directives of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Former provincial chief minister Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan will be new governor of KPK. He will administer oath of the office on Thursday.
Engineer Shaukatullah remained in the office for 14 months assuming office on February 16, 2013. He was preceded by Barrister Masud Kausar of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Belonging to Bajaur Agency, Engineer Shaukatullah was the first ever civilian from Federally Administrative Tribal Areas (FATA) as governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Earlier, a number of former military officers, including Peshawar ex-corps commander Lt general (R) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai have served as the KPK governor.
Though Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan cited no reason regarding replacement of Engineer Shaukatullah, yet it is believed that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was interested in his own party’s figure in Governor House Peshawar.
Belonging to Abbottabad district, designated governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmad started his political career as MPA in 1985, party-less for the first time. Later, he served late Arbab Muhammad Jehangir Khan’s cabinet as Minister for Health and Minister for Housing. In 1988, he retained the seat on Islami Jamhoori Ittehad’s (IJI) ticket and performed his responsibilities as an active member of opposition in Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao’s cabinet. In 1990 and 1993, he retained both national and provincial assembly seats, serving as a federal minister in Nawaz Sharif’s first cabinet.
After 1997’s general elections, he took oath as chief minister of KPK when Pakistan Muslim League and Awami National Party established a coalition government. He remained in office till October 12, 1999 when Pervez Musharraf imposed a martial law. Following 2008 general elections, he served in the federal cabinet of Yousaf Raza Gilani for a limited period.
Since May 2013, Sardar Mehtab is leading a scattered opposition in the KPK provincial assembly.