The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Shah, Fawad Hassan Fawad, the Minister of Privatisation and Inter-provincial Coordination, and Cheema have all been ordered to resign from their positions by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Advocate Syed Azizud Din Kaka Khel filed a petition in October claiming that these people’s position in the caretaker administration impedes election transparency, and this ruling is a reaction to that plea.Shortly after receiving the petition, the ECP determined that Cheema’s expulsion was “reasonable and accepted.” The panel voiced worries that Cheema’s ties to the outgoing administration would affect how impartial the elections are. As a result, the ECP ordered Cheema’s removal and gave the Cabinet Division secretary instructions to send out the notification as soon as possible.
The composition of the interim cabinet has come under fire; among those emphasised is Cheema, who was a member of the previous PML-N-led administration. Several other ministers are also recognised for having close ties to the PML-N. The interim government was earlier cautioned by the ECP not to employ people who had “known political allegiance.” A September letter to the secretary of the caretaker prime minister urged prudence on this point.
In October, PM Kakar stood up for Fawad and Cheema in spite of the ECP’s recommendations, disputing allegations that the caretaker government was in league with the PML-N. Kakar claimed that both officials were experienced bureaucrats who had work . However, the recent decision by the ECP highlights the commission’s dedication to guaranteeing an unbiased and transparent electoral process, paving the way for future adjustments to the interim government’s composition.
