KP cabinet stands dissolved as caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan dies in harness

KP cabinet stands dissolved as caretaker Chief Minister Azam Khan dies in harness

Pakistan

He was hospitalised on Friday night with multiple complaints

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PESHAWAR (Dunya News) - Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Azam Khan passed away on Saturday. He was 89.   

He was admitted to a private hospital on Friday night after his health deteriorated. 

The hospital spokesperson, Shabbir Shah, said he was admitted to ICU in a critical condition. He said Azam was suffering from multiple ailments including heart problem.  

Azam Khan's funeral prayer was offered in Charsadda. Caretaker ministers, FC IG Moazzam Ansari and secretaries of various departments attended funeral prayer.   

Profile  

Muhammad Azam Khan had served as the caretaker chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since Jan 21, 2023. He was appointed by Governor Haji Ghulam Ali after the dissolution of the KP provincial assembly on Jan 18, 2023. 

He was born in a village named Parrang in Charsadda. He had a law degree from the University of Peshawar. Azam Khan had passed Bar At Law from Lincoln’s Inn College London. He joined the District Management Group (now called PAS) after passing the civil services examination and retired from the top slot of chief secretary of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 

Legal perspective 

Former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad said the KP cabinet stood dissolved with the death of the chief minister. He said: "Law stipulates that until a new chief minister is elected, the governor will assume authority and manage provincial affairs." 

He said Article 224 of the Constitution empowered the Senate to make decisions in emergency situations, and if there’s a disagreement in selecting a new CM, the matter would be referred to the ECP. 

He further said the leaders of the House and the opposition in the Senate would sit together to come up with a new CM’s name. In case of disagreement between them, the matter would land in the ECP. 

The entire process should not take more than a week under the law, said Dilshad. 

Condolences pour in 

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar termed the KP CM an honest and pious person. He prayed for the deceased’s family.

 

 

Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi remembered Azam as a 'gentleman' and 'polite' person. In the same way, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti  prayed for Khan’s family.

 

Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori showed his profound grief on Khan's death and prayed for deceased’s elevated ranks.

 

PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi  also prayed for the bereaved family, saying he was 'deeply saddened by the loss'.