Tarar slams KP cabinet expansion, alleges corruption and governance failure

ISLAMABAD: Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, accusing it of corruption, financial mismanagement and expanding the provincial cabinet for political appeasement rather than governance.

His criticism came days after the KP government inducted six new ministers, four advisers and eight special assistants, swelling the provincial cabinet to 31 members — a move that has sparked constitutional and political controversy.

In a post on X, Tarar claimed there was “no governance” left in the province, alleging that corruption and administrative mismanagement had reached alarming levels.

“Lavish expenses are being incurred, and public money is being spent on politics,” he said, questioning the rationale behind the appointments.

The federal minister alleged that merit had been ignored in the cabinet expansion and that political loyalty had become the sole criterion for securing ministerial positions.

“Apart from incompetence, there is no other criterion for selecting these ministers and advisers,” Tarar remarked, while criticising the PTI’s 12-year rule in the province.

“Provincial affairs have never been this poor,” he added.

The expansion, approved by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi last week, pushed the number of ministers and advisers beyond the constitutional limit set under Article 130, which allows a maximum of 15 ministers and five advisers.

The summary was forwarded to Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who approved it, paving the way for the oath-taking ceremony at the Governor’s House.

The move has also exposed widening cracks within the PTI, with several party lawmakers expressing anger over being ignored in the reshuffle.

Sources said Afridi had initially planned to keep a lean cabinet after taking office following the resignation of former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur last year. However, mounting pressure from party leaders and MPAs eventually forced the expansion.

The reshuffle has reportedly intensified regional and factional divisions within the PTI, as several members accused the leadership of favouritism and sidelining senior workers.