Reasons behind major cabinet reshuffle surface

A day after Prime Minister Imran Khan made a sweeping cabinet reshuffle, reasons behind removal of several ministers have begun to surface.

According to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan was not satisfied with several ministers after he reviewed performance, secret reports and public opinion. The decision to remove these ministers was already taken few days ago. Reportedly, Asad Umar was removed from the post due to weak economic policy, poor performance of the Federal Board  of Revenue (FBR) and surging dollar rate. Fawad Chaudhry was removed from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for using tough tone on the issue of MD PTV. He had also criticised several party members.

Sources further told that a committee report regarding increase in gas bills rendered Ghulam Sarwar’s position as petroleum minister weak. The federal government was facing immense pressure due to gas bills issue. Moreover, Prime Minister was unhappy with Aamir Mehmood Kiani over increase in prices of medicines.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved reallocation of portfolios in the federal cabinet and new appointments, including that of Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Advisor on Finance. Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has been assigned portfolio of Minister for Science and Technology, Ghulam Sarwar as Federal Minister for Aviation, Ijaz Ahmed Shah as Federal Minister for Interior, Shehryar Afridi as Minister of State for States and Frontier Regions and Mohammad Mian Soomro will be Federal Minister for Privatization.

Similarly, Azam Swati has been appointed as Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Advisor on Finance, Dr Zafarullah Mirza, and Special Assistant to Prime Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan as Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting and Nadeem Babar as Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Petroleum.