Hoti elected NWFP CM unopposed
01 April, 2008
PESHAWAR: Amir Haider Hoti was elected as NWFP Chief Minister unopposed on Monday, as no one had filed nomination papers for the top slot against him. A formal announcement to this effect would be made today (Tuesday) and later, he would take oath at the Governor House at 4pm. In a brief talk with reporters, he said the members of his cabinet would take oath on April 2 and would give his policy statement after taking oath today. Hoti, however, reiterated his government’s commitment to continue dialogue with militants and to find solution to the prevailing crisis. He was confident to overcome all problems confronting the province through negotiations. He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominees would be inducted into the cabinet. Six nomination papers of Amir Haider Hoti for the NWFP chief minister’s position were filed by major political parties in the NWFP Assembly on Monday, giving an impression that he was joint candidate for the coveted slot. Earlier, Speaker Karamatullah Chagharmati administered oath to the newly elected MPA Anwar Saifullah Khan, who had not attended the assembly’s inaugural session.The speaker then announced schedule for the chief minister’s election, saying the nomination papers could be filed with secretary NWFP Assembly by 1.30pm. Both the Awami National Party and the Pakistan People’s Party filed nomination papers for Hoti, while the PML-N and the PPP-Sherpao also filed nomination papers in favour of Hoti separately. Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Arbab Ayub Jan, Iftikhar Hussain and Wajid Ali Khan presented Hoti’s nomination papers on behalf of the ANP, while Rahimdad Khan, Latifullah Alizai, Abdul Akbar Khan and Iftikhar Khan filed Hoti’s papers from the PPP. PML-N provincial President Pir Sabir Shah and Munawar Khan and PPP-S parliamentary leader Pervez Khattak and Murid Kazim also filed his nomination papers separately on behalf of their respective parties. ANP’s Mian Iftikhar Hussain told reporters that almost all political parties had nominated Hoti for the chief minister’s slot, except one party. This, he added, was already planned to elect Hoti as chief minister unopposed. He thanked the opposition for electing their nominee unopposed and hoped to run the affairs of the House with consultations. Although, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and PML-Quaid did not file any papers for Hoti, the leaders of both the parties announced support to the joint nominee of the government.The opposition had not fielded anyone against government’s nominated candidates for the offices of the speaker and deputy speaker. The ANP has already announced the names and portfolios of its 12 ministers, while the PPP has also finalised the names of its nine would-be ministers.PPP provincial president Rahimdad said he would announce the names of ministers today. He rejected any differences within PPP ranks on the induction of cabinet ministers and said allocation of ministries to party members had been finalised after discussion with party’s co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari. He also denied the reports of inducting his relatives in the cabinet. Being a senior member of the party, Rahimdad said he would abide by the party’s discipline and policy. “I would not hesitate to quit the office of party’s provincial president if I am asked to do so,” he said when asked about holding the party’s office after induction in the cabinet. Rahimdad said the PPP leadership had sacrificed their lives, and they were united for “a greater cause” instead of think about ministries. APP adds: Amir Haider Khan Hoti will take oath as the new chief minister of the NWFP at the Governor’s House. Governor NWFP Owais Ahmed Ghani will administer oath to Hoti at 4 pm today (Tuesday). Earlier, since no candidate had filed the nomination papers by 1:00 pm Monday, deadline for filing papers Amir Hoti was elected unopposed leader of the house. His papers were declared valid for contesting the election for the slot of the chief minister. End.
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