Best Man for the Job?

JUI-nominated KP Governor Haji Ghulam Ali seems committed to bridging the province-centre divide

Peshawar: After remaining vacant for almost seven months since the resignation of Shah Farman in April, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor’s house finally has a new resident. Former Senator and Peshawar Mayor Haji Ghulam Ali became the new Governor of the province after taking oath on Wednesday evening, only hours after his notification the same day.

Ghulam Ali had been touted as one of the strongest candidates for the post more than once in the past few months. However, a tug-of-war between the Awami National Party (ANP), the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML N) — the three main parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — to have the man of their choice appointed Governor, resulted in the months-long delay in the  matter.

The ANP believed that seasoned politician and former provincial minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain was the most suitable for the post, and would have given the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) provincial government a tough time during their last year in power. Maulana Fazalur Rahman however, kept stressing on having his man in the Governor’s House — which lies right opposite the Chief Minister’s House — and he succeeded in his ambition despite efforts from the PML-N provincial president Amir Muqam Khan who wanted his man to be given the post.

Political analyst Mehmood Jan Babar argues that the lack of interest by JUI’s two top candidates, former CM Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Akram Khan Durrani, and Haji Ghulam Ali was another reason for the delay in the finalisation of the Governor’s name. “Both men were interested in becoming the next Chief Minister of KP in case the JUI won the elections. This because it is clear that whoever becomes the Governor will not have any chance of becoming CM, and the latter has more power at his disposal than the Governor,” said Babar.

Ghulam Ali emerged in the political arena by becoming a member of the Municipal Corporation in 1986. He became Peshawar District Nazim in 2005 and then Senator in 2009. He contested in the 2013 and the 2018 general elections, but failed to become a member of the provincial assembly on both occasions.

Talking to the media, the new Governor expressed joy over becoming the first JUI member to become a provincial governor and thanked Maulana Fazalur Rahman for entrusting him with the challenge. “All PDM parties, the ANP, PPP and PML anonymously chose me as their candidate for the governorship. They believe I can solve the challenges facing the province, the first of which is reducing the vast distance between the federal and the provincial government, as this is badly damaging the economy of the province,” he told reporters before taking oath.

Peshawar-based journalist Lehaz Ali, however, argues that the main aim of the appointment of Ghulam Ali as Governor KP is to topple the PTI in the province. “The PDM — particularly the JUI — wants to achieve this by trying to build a counter-narrative and counter-strategy against the PTI for next year’s general elections. Ghulam Ali is the ideal person to sit in the Governor’s House for many reasons. He knows the rules of the game very well. He knows how to deal with politicians, with people from the Establishment and with those who conduct political deals in cash transactions,” Lehaz said.

Taunting the PTI in a light manner, the new Governor added that his aim was to restore the provincial institutions. “You won’t give money to your own son if he keeps abusing you. I consider myself as the representative of the federal government and I wish the provincial government representatives would consider themselves as the representatives of the province,” said Haji Ghulam Ali.

The tactful politician also expressed his desire to resolve the hot issue of the merged districts, despite the fact that his party was against the merger of the tribal areas into KP province. “We accept the constitutional decision of the merger despite my party being against it at the time. I will try to improve the education system in the merged areas on a priority basis. Removing the difficulties and the grievances of the people of the merged areas is another priority,” he maintained.

Ghulam Ali also spoke about the financial difficulties faced by different universities in the province and reiterated he would resolve their financial and administrative challenges. “Universities are preparing the nation’s future and I will try to support these institutions in the best way I can,” he said.

Rubbishing any possibilities of the imposition of Governor rule if tensions between the centre and the province continued to escalate, Ghulam Ali said that he wanted to end the politics of confrontation. He contended, “I don’t see any chance of Governor rule. I will try to create a better working relationship with the Chief Minister for the province and the country.”

Mehmood Jan Babar is hopeful that a “big-hearted” Ghulam Ali will show class in bridging the gap between the province and the federal capital, as he feels the PTI abstaining from essential matters in the federal capital is only hurting the province. “Ghulam Ali is a master tactician in relation to handling his opponents as well as his own party people. There are always risks of the PDM paying the PTI back in the same coin as they create hurdles for the federal government through the President of Pakistan, but I think Ghulam Ali will not follow the politics of confrontation and instead will be a major player in improving the working relation between the capital and KP,” Babar maintained.