National ( The cow news digital ) The provincial cabinet of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been significantly expanded, raising concerns over constitutional compliance after the number of cabinet members surpassed the legal limit set under the Constitution of Pakistan.
According to official sources, the expansion was approved following the signing of a summary by the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The move has increased the total size of the cabinet from 14 to 31 members, including ministers, advisers, and special assistants.
Under the latest reshuffle, six new ministers, four advisers, and eight special assistants have been inducted into the provincial government. The expansion has triggered debate as it appears to exceed the constitutional ceiling defined under Article 130, which limits the number of ministers to 15 and advisers to five.
Following the new appointments, the total number of ministers, including the Chief Minister, has reached 17, while advisers now stand at six. Legal experts suggest that the expanded structure may require adjustments to remain within constitutional boundaries, potentially leading to the removal or re-designation of some members.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had earlier formed a small 14-member cabinet after taking office, reportedly due to internal consultations and political constraints. Party leadership pressure and demands from assembly members later pushed for a broader expansion of the cabinet.
Officials say the Chief Minister had initially sought guidance from party leadership before finalizing the full cabinet structure. However, delays in consultations led to a partial setup, which has now been significantly expanded following political negotiations within the ruling party.
The newly inducted ministers include Nazir Ahmad Abbasi, Shakil Ahmad, Muhammad Adnan Qadri, Muhammad Arif Ahmedzai, and Tariq Mahmood Arian. New advisers include Pir Musawar Khan, Liaqat Ali Khan, Hamayun Khan, and Mian Muhammad Umar. Eight special assistants have also taken oath, adding to the administrative strength of the provincial government.
The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, signed the summary approving the cabinet expansion. The newly appointed members are expected to take oath at Governor House, after which they will formally assume their responsibilities.
Political observers note that while the expansion may help distribute administrative workload, it also raises questions about governance efficiency and adherence to constitutional limits. The situation is likely to draw further scrutiny from legal and political circles in the coming days.
