Imran Khan’s PTI has finally achieved its goal of conquering Pakistan in the 2018 Election. A mammoth task which has been achieved over a period of 22 years and a lot of sacrifices. Before the 2013 General Election PTI had only won one seat in the 2002 General Election. It was the city of Peshawar, which started the wave of PTI and spread through the province of KPK in 2013. And it was this wave which spread to Northern Punjab and Central Punjab in 2018. It can be clearly seen that the popularity which started in Peshawar, spread throughout KPK in 2018 and also travelled south towards north and central Punjab. PTI clean sweeped Peshawar both in 2013 and again in 2018; unprecedented in the city’s political history. So how is PTI going reward Peshawar or more specially the candidates of Peshawar. Is Peshawar going to be home to any major position of Governor, Chief Minister or any Federal Minister?
Ironically, amongst a large provincial cabinet in the last tenure, there was only one Minister from the city of Peshawar.
The candidate for the position of Chief Minister from Peshawar might include Shah Farman. However it is highly unlikely that the party would turn to a new Chief Minister instead of Pervez Khattak given that it’s provincial seats doubled seeing the performance of the last five years. However, in case it does turn to a new candidate, Muhammad Atif is more likely a candidate for the said position.
The candidates for any of the prized positions of Federal Ministers would include, the five winning MNAs namely Haji Shaukat Ali, Sher Ali Arbab, Amir Ayub, Nasir Musazai and Noor Alam Khan. Amongst these, Arbab Sher Ali is an old visionary of PTI and if loyalty towards party is given priority is a likely member of the Federal Cabinet. However if experience is given preference, Noor Alam Khan has been member of the National Assembly since 2008 to 2013. Probability of any MNA from Peshawar being given a position on the Federal Cabinet is not very likely.
However, that would leave PTI in a fix, as ignoring the city from where it all started might be unfair and politically incorrect. There are 3 more candidates from Peshawar in the form of the three senators from Peshawar, namely Nauman Wazir, Mohsin Aziz and Brig. Williams. Amongst these the former 2 are strong candidates for a position on the Federal Cabinet.
Senator Mohsin Aziz is an industrialist and former President of the Chamber of Commerce of KPK and has a strong grip over the Finance, Commerce and Industries. Since, Asad Omer is the default candidate for Finance, the people of Peshawar may be rewarded by giving Mohsin Aziz the ministry of Industries or Commerce.
Senator Nauman Wazir is also an industrialist and an engineer by profession; he was the election agent of Imran Khan in NA-1 (Peshawar-1) in 2013. He has served on the boards of PESCO and SNGPL. Being the only senior leader of PTI, who is an engineer; the Ministry of Energy seems apt for him, especially since there is no clear cut candidate for the said ministry from the PTI at the moment. Nauman Wazir has a long affiliation with PTI and has served as the first Parliamentary Leader of PTI in the Senate and also as the Chief Election Commissioner of PTI.
No matter which ever of the above candidates is made part of the Federal Cabinet, it would be cruelty to Peshawar, if neither the Chief Minister is made from this city or any Federal Minister.
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