Race for Governor, KP
In order to get a convincing answer as to who is likely to be appointed as the next governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it is important to know the reasons behind the resignation of Sardar Mehtab Abbasi. Unless we are sure why he has left the office it is difficult to make a reasonable guess.
At the moment there are so many reasons that are cited by different people and reliable and unreliable sources. These range from personal to institutional and from being a result of disagreements to a show of the spirit of accommodation among different stakeholders. Whatever theory one likes to believe is good enough but it is certain that it will lead to a different conclusion as far as name of the likely incumbent is concerned.
The outgoing governor told the journalists that the reasons were purely personal as he wanted to move on in politics; that it was natural to go after serving for a reasonable time there; and that someone else has to come forward to carry forward the good job that he has done while he was in office. Well, if all of this is true then we have good enough reason to believe that the next governor will be a politician belonging to PML-N.
It is because assuming that Mehtab Abbasi left on his own it leaves the prime minister without any outside pressure to appoint a certain individual or an individual with certain professional background. The problem, then, will be of a ‘routine nature’ in which only a formal nod of those who really matter will be needed for a person of PM’s choice. In that case a political personality is likely to occupy the seat.
But then who can be that lucky person?
As a matter of fact, there are only two names in the rounds in the political category of personalities; Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Amir Muqam. The former is a veteran, committed, but aging, ailing political worker symbolising a glorious, loyal past. The latter takes decisions and changes loyalties according to the changing situations but which characteristic makes him highly influential, ‘profitable’ and matter-of-fact politician promising future. The former may be a good stuff for eulogising in a society that searches heroes only among the people bygone. But the latter is more useful in practical terms if the decision-maker has his sight on the time to come. This is a choice between past and future in which the PM may opt for future.
So, among the politicians, Amir Muqam is the safest bet.
But, hold on… That is only if the decision is to be made by Nawaz Sharif in a situation in which Mehtab Abbasi has taken a ‘personal decision’ to resign — but in ‘consultation’ with the prime minister. And only if a politician is going to be appointed as the next governor. But why would, or can, it be so?
One way to explain it can be that Mehtab Abbasi, whose loyalty can’t be doubted, will be free to relaunch himself into parliamentary politics at national level. In that case, Prime Minister will not only have another man of his choice in the governor’s seat but will also have an acceptable-to-all and all-time loyal man to throw into the Senate, making him possibly its chairman after PPP is shown the door and then maybe elected as President of Pakistan. Or Sardar Mehtab may contest next general elections and become Chief Minister of KP – timing of the resignation indicates towards that possibility. Isn’t a picture-perfect scenario for both the incumbent prime minister and the outgoing governor?
Why not? But then, there are many further twists in the tale to reach a convincingly conclusive conclusion. And it can become conclusive only if we are sure that Mehtab Abbasi has resigned due to his persona reasons and ambitions and due to the future designs of PM Nawaz Sharif. But what if (aah, that ‘what, if’ again) the resignation of outgoing governor didn’t come solely due to the reasons cited by him and discussed herein above?
There are lots of speculations and rumours going on about the ‘outside’ factors which may have nudged the outgoing governor to tender his resignation. Most important among these is that the military establishment wanted to have its own man in the KP’s governor seat at a time when the all-important FATA reforms are being finalised. It’s not a rocket science to know that after the people of these tribal areas, it is the security establishment which is the biggest stake-holder and, obviously, the most interested party tribal areas affairs.
The four-member committee that is assigned with the reforms’ task already includes in its composition two retired generals – Minister, SAFRON, Lt Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch (retd) and National Security Advisor, Lt Gen Nasser Janjua (retd). The remaining two are Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. So, apparently the security side has more than fair share in the composition of the said committee. Yet, theoretically and constitutionally, governor is the most pivotal pillar in this arrangement – though the office has lost its traditional centrality in practical terms with the advent of terrorism and the subsequent war on it in the volatile tribal areas.
Now, if this is correct and the push for a change has come from the military side, then it goes without saying that the next incumbent would be from their own ranks. The rumour mills have so far churned out three prominent names: Tariq Khan, Salahuddin Timizi and Mohammad Alam Khattak – all of them retired generals.
Lt Gen Tariq Khan is an exemplary soldier. He belongs to Tank area in KP. He is a war hero. He held so many important positions during his military career and won honours and laurels, including Hilal-e-Imtiaz. He was the one who led Operation Zalzala in South Waziristan and freed Bajaur Agency from the clutches of Taliban in the FC-led Operation Sherdil – which was supported by a military brigade. He also received United States Legion of Merit for meritorious services during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Reportedly, his name was under consideration along with other general at the time of selection of the COAS in 2013 when Gen Raheel Sharif was finally chosen for the slot. He had required qualification to be appointed to the coveted office; a native of the area directly affected by terrorism, operational experience in war against terrorism, so many war victories, military honours, etc. But even then he failed to make it to that office.
There are said to be some reasons for that: differences between him and the military establishment as a whole during the Battle of Bajaur in its different stages, sometimes him going beyond the institutional limits, direct interaction with the Americans, etc. At times, there were disagreements of media wing of FC and ISPR; sometime, both issuing different statements. All these recollections make one believe that he may not be a strong candidate for the position of Governor, KP.
Salahuddin Tirmizi may have general as a prefix to his name but a political nobody he stands nowhere. He has no extraordinary achievements in his career except making a speech in UN General Assembly in his capacity as anti-narcotics chief. Also, before his retirement his name was doing the rounds in his close circles as the ‘next’ COAS. But after his name didn’t figure anywhere in that race, it was later said that it was he himself who had spread these rumours. He doesn’t enjoy a good personal reputation inside his parent organisation. Politically he has nothing to show except that he belongs to Hazara Division – which is a premium qualification with the Prime Minister, whose PML-N enjoys support only in that region in the whole of KP. But that isn’t enough in this case and it may not work here.
Among the three military names, it is the name of Lt Gen Mohammad Alam Khattak – if it is true that he is being considered for the job – which stands tall. With the reputation of an upright soldier and a gentleman with impeccable integrity he is apparently the most suitable person to be the next incumbent of Governor House, Peshawar. His current assignment as Secretary Defence also makes him the strongest runner in the race in the sense that he is ‘acceptable’ to both civilian and military leaderships. And that is what is required at the moment.
Sources believe this, logic supports it. The rest is future.
