PESHAWAR:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan took oath of his office in Peshawar on Saturday afternoon.
KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali administered the oath to Azam at a simple but impressive ceremony held at Governor’s House. Earlier, in the day, Governor Haji Ghulam Ali appointed the consensus choice of ruling and opposition parties, and former bureaucrat Azam Khan as the caretaker chief minister of the province.
Governor Haji Ghulam Ali signed the notification for appointing Muhammad Azam Khan as caretaker chief minister early Saturday morning and duly issued the notification.
The order to this effect reads:
“I, HAJI GHULAM ALI, the Governor, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, hereby appoint Mr. M. Azam Khan, as the Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in terms of Clause (IA) of the Article 224 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973.”
The KP government and the opposition had unexpectedly evolved a consensus on Azam Khan as the caretaker chief minister during their meeting on Friday.
A meeting between KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and Opposition Leader Akram Durrani was held at the Speaker’s House in Peshawar. In the meeting, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) KP chapter President Pervaiz Khattak and KP Assembly Speaker Mushtaq Ghani were also present.
Mahmood Khan and Akram Durrani of the dissolved assembly later confirmed that they had agreed on the name of Azam Khan as caretaker CM.
After the meeting, Mahmood Khan and Akram Durrani held a press conference and announced that they had agreed on the name of former bureaucrat Azam Khan as Caretaker CM.
Mahmood Khan said the name of Azam Khan has been agreed upon as caretaker CM and it is for the first time in history, there was an agreement between the opposition and the government.
Akram Durrani while talking to the media said the people of the KP province were very worried about the matter but they had chosen Azam Khan on merit and with consensus.
Both the leaders also signed a summary regarding their decision and forwarded it to the KP governor for further action.
Azam Khan’s profile
Azam Khan was educated at the University of Peshawar, following which he went to Lincoln’s Inn, London to complete his Barrister-at-Law degree in 1962. Muhammad Azam Khan has had a long and bright career as a civil servant in the Government of Pakistan.
A former bureaucrat Muhammad Azam Khan remained Minister for Finance, Planning and Development Department, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from October 24, 2007 to April 1, 2008. He also served as the Federal Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources and Federal Secretary Ministry of Religious Affairs. Earlier, he held important positions in the KP government where he served as the Chief Secretary from September 1990 to July 1993.
He remained Secretary of different ministries. Muhammad Azam Khan also held the position of Chairman Pakistan Tobacco Board, Government of Pakistan, Ministry of Commerce. He served as UNDP Coordinator from January 1997 to June 2007. He has been a member the of high-powered Commission on Rural Finances; National Statistical Council Islamabad; Steering Committee of IMI in Pakistan, State Bank of Pakistan; South Asia Social Mobilization Network; Senate of Islamia College Peshawar; Board of Governors City University Peshawar; National Oversight Disaster Management Council, Pakistan.
He also acted as Chairman Supreme Court Flood Commission Inquiry; Director Imran Khan Foundation (Flood and Rehabilitation); Chairman Board of Directors, Centre for Excellence for Rural Development; Director of BoD of Allied Bank of Pakistan; Director of BoD of Rural Support Programme; President Senior Alumni Association Islamia College Peshawar and Vice President Children SOS Villages of Pakistan, Peshawar.