Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has demanded the removal of the Provincial Caretaker Minister for Industries and Mineral Development Omar Farooq from the provincial cabinet after accusing him of losing impartiality. The call was made by the Office Secretary PPP, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mashal Khan Azad while addressing a news conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) on Thursday.
Former MPA, Nighat Yasmin Orakzai, provincial vice president, Hamidullah Zahid and other party activists also flanked him on the occasion. He said the leadership of the party had expressed reservations over the present caretaker set-up in the very beginning and had formally brought their complaints and reservations to the notice of caretaker chief minister in written form. But, they were not addressed.
The PPP office-bearer said the minister concerned is completely partial and using his post and authorities to not only benefit JUI-F, but is also part of the election campaign of the party. Mashal Khan said the minister is supporting the candidates of JUI-F throughout the province and particularly in southern districts including Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Tank and D I Khan and using every tactic to help win Akram Khan Durrani and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman.
In support of his accusation, he specially mentioned the publishing of an advertisement regarding new recruitment in the constituency of Maulana Fazl. He said the minister has even nominated former provincial minister Sher Azam Wazir and his son, PPP candidate from PK-71 Fakhar-e-Azam in a murder case. He said the minister has issued no formal clarification in this regard.
The PPP activist said that under the leadership of Anwar Saifullah Khan the popularity of the party had increased manifold. However, he said, PPP has foiled all such tactics and conspiracies of Maulana and Durrani and warned their crony in the caretaker cabinet to remain aloof of the conspiracy and tender resignation with immediate effect.