Pervez Khattak, former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Defence Minister, finds himself in an uncertain political position after being appointed as Adviser on Interior Affairs to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His decision to accept the advisory role has neither benefited his political stature nor secured him a stable position, as even the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has strongly criticised his induction into the federal cabinet.

The backlash stems from Khattak’s long-standing association with Imran Khan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), during which PML-N remained under severe political pressure. The expansion of the federal cabinet has been ongoing for over a week, with portfolios assigned to various ministers. However, Khattak’s appointment remains controversial, with initial reports suggesting he would be an adviser on defence before it was finalised that he would oversee interior affairs.

Khattak’s appointment as Adviser on Interior Affairs has not been well received within PML-N, particularly among its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa leadership. Many party leaders have questioned how a politician who spent his entire career opposing PML-N and serving as Imran Khan’s ally could now be accommodated within the government. The reluctance to accept him is evident, as no major political leader or party has publicly congratulated him on his new role. Even within the government, no senior official has come forward to defend the decision. Some PML-N leaders have justified the move by citing coalition politics and strategic considerations, but their own reluctance while doing so reflects internal dissatisfaction. Among the most vocal critics is PML-N leader Ikhtiar Wali, who had previously defeated Khattak in his home constituency of Nowshera. Wali has openly criticised his party’s leadership for including Khattak in the cabinet, arguing that his past actions against PML-N, especially during PTI’s protests and sit-ins, make his induction unacceptable.

Ikhtiar Wali further pointed out that while Khattak has been given a cabinet position, PML-N’s elected representatives from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been ignored. He also revealed that his political rivalry with Khattak had severed personal relations to the extent that they no longer even exchange greetings in public gatherings. “How can I justify my party’s decision when my leadership itself is accommodating my staunch political opponent?” Wali questioned.

Government sources suggest that Shehbaz Sharif’s decision to bring Pervez Khattak into the cabinet is part of a broader strategy to exert pressure on PTI and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister, Ali Amin Gandapur. The appointment is seen as an attempt to create internal rifts within PTI and weaken its influence in the province. Following PTI’s defeat in the 2024 general elections, Khattak had resigned from the leadership of PTI-Parliamentarians and announced his withdrawal from politics. However, his decision to accept the role of Adviser on Interior Affairs signals his re-entry into active politics, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Critics have questioned why a seasoned politician who previously held the positions of Chief Minister and Defence Minister would accept an advisory role under the prime minister. Sources indicate that both the government and Khattak found mutual benefit in the arrangement. With the establishment and federal authorities needing a strong political figure to counter Ali Amin Gandapur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Khattak emerged as a suitable choice. However, since he did not win a seat in the 2024 elections, he could not be made a federal minister, thus being appointed as an adviser instead.

Pervez Khattak’s political trajectory took a major turn ahead of the 2024 elections when he developed differences with Imran Khan and subsequently parted ways with PTI. He later formed PTI-Parliamentarians, attracting several PTI defectors. However, the party failed to gain significant electoral success. Khattak contested both National and Provincial Assembly seats but lost both. His party fielded candidates in 45 National Assembly and 115 Provincial Assembly constituencies, securing only two seats in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Given his prior announcement to retire from politics, his acceptance of the advisory role suggests he is once again positioning himself in the province’s political landscape. Whether this move will yield any political dividends or further damage his credibility remains to be seen.