The ministry of petroleum and mineral resources was created in December 1960, and Tariki was appointed the first oil minister. Tariki joined Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz's camp, Free Princes Movement, in 1961, and they accused Crown Prince Faisal, later King Faisal, of corruption. Tariki became a powerful ally of the movement. He claimed on evidence that Kamal Adham, who was the brother-in-law of Prince Faisal, got 2% of the profits of the Arabian Oil Company that had been cofounded by Saudi Arabia and Japan.