PESHAWAR: The sudden demise of Caretaker KP Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan has left the province in a state of transition. Khan, aged 89, passed away in Peshawar after battling a severe stomach infection and suffering a heart attack.
His funeral prayer was offered in Charsadda, and the provincial government is expected to appoint a new Chief Minister soon.
According to reports, Azam Khan was shifted to Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar on Friday after he fell ill. Khan was suffering from a severe stomach infection and suffered a heart attack on Friday night. He was kept in the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).
Caretaker Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Murtaza Solangi has emphasized that the spirit of the constitution will be followed in letter and spirit, ensuring a smooth transition of power.
In a post on X, formerly twitter, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said: “the spirit of the constitution is crystal clear and shall be followed in the letter and spirit after the sad demise of the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
The spirit of the constitution is crystal clear and shall be followed in the letter and the spirit of the constitutional scheme, after the sad demise of the Chief Minister of KP. The Governor, the Chief Secretary and the entire provincial government shall perform their duties…
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) November 11, 2023
He said the Governor, the Chief Secretary and the entire provincial government shall perform their duties accordingly. He said there is no crisis and the new Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be appointed sooner rather than later. He said there is no room for any speculations.”
However, former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad has stated that all powers have been transferred to the KP Governor Ghulam Ali and the interim cabinet has been dissolved after the death of the Interim CM, saying the matter will be referred to the ECP if there is a disagreement over selection of a new CM.
“Article 224 of the Constitution empowers the Senate to make decisions in emergency situations, and if there’s a disagreement in the selection of a new CM, the matter will be referred to the ECP”,
Azam Khan had taken oath as caretaker CM in January 2023.
