KPK Governor faces backlash for offering family & friends ‘Joyride’ on official helicopter

KPK Governor Ghulam Ali has found himself embroiled in controversy after a video emerged of his visit to Swat with his family and friends in a government-owned helicopter, according to a report by The News.

KP Governor's alleged use of government helicopter for personal affairs#SamaaTV #KhyberPakhtunKhwa #KPK #Governor #Pakistan #Government #News #Updates pic.twitter.com/zd09rAuHYx

— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) October 15, 2023

The video captures the KPK governor boarding the helicopter accompanied by his two grandsons. During his visit to the district, he toured various locations and, on the return trip to Peshawar, took a friend and their children along in the helicopter.

The governor KPK explained to TV channels that he had brought his grandsons along because it was a school holiday. Governor Ghulam Ali is a senior leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) and a close relative of JUI Chairman Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman.

This incident is not the first of its kind, as there have been previous allegations against former governors and chief ministers who were criticized for using official helicopters for personal visits, leading to public backlash.

Governor Ghulam Ali had previously criticized former Chief Minister Mahmood Khan for the personal use of the official helicopter and had expressed his intention to prevent its use at the Governor’s House.

Last year, the KPK Assembly passed legislation allowing the official use of helicopters or aircraft by the chief minister, ministers, or public servants on behalf of the provincial chief executive at the government’s expense.

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This legislation sparked strong criticism from the opposition, accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of making amendments to counter the objections raised by the Election Commission of Pakistan regarding the use of helicopters by PTI Chairman Imran Khan and the chief minister during election campaigns.

At that time, the KP governor had also expressed opposition to the bill and initially refused to sign it but eventually gave his assent with reluctance.