*Sources say Jatoi reduced to ‘powerless’ minister by Hamza Shahbaz, Ishaq Dar and Saad Rafique
*Jatoi’s spokesman says minister has told PM to reign in party top brass or accept his resignation
The chasm between the Sindhi and Punjabi leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has further widened with the resignation of Minister for Industries Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi.
Son of former prime minister late Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Murtaza was the only prominent leader from Sindh working with PML-N as many leaders hailing from Sindh have already parted ways with the party’s leadership. Former chief ministers of Sindh Syed Ghaus Ali Shah, Liaqat Ali Jatoi, Elahi Bux Soomro and Mumtaz Ali Bhutto are amongst those who have bid adieu to PML-N.
Talking to Pakistan Today on Saturday, a close aide of Jatoi said that Jatoi had quit his ministerial post after successive postings and transfers in the ministry’s departments were made without bringing the matters to his knowledge, allegedly on directions coming directly from PML-N bigwigs.
“Jatoi was unhappy due to transfers and postings in his ministry without his knowledge. Even Utility Stores Corporation managing director was posted and transferred without his knowledge. Though he was the principal decision-making entity, transfers and postings continued allegedly on the orders of Hamza Shahbaz Sharif and Khawaja Saad Rafique,” the source said.
The source added that Jatoi, in his resignation letter addressed to the PM, had specifically mentioned how Hamza, Senator Ishaq Dar and Minister of Railways Rafique had been taking decisions of his ministry.
“I have been made a stranger in my own ministry. Now I refuse to work as a powerless minister. Either allow me to run my ministry by giving a shut up call to the powerful individuals around you or accept my resignation,” said the source, quoting Jatoi’s letter to the premier.
The source said that Jatoi was unhappy with the former USC MD Murtaza Khaqan Abbasi who had literally refused to follow his orders. Later, Abbasi was transferred without Jatoi’s consent and was given another key office in the Water and Power Ministry. A charge sheet was also circulated against the USC MD but to no avail and he kept defying Jatoi’s orders allegedly with the full-backing of PML-N bigwigs, the source added.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Jatoi’s spokesman confirmed that the minister had sent a letter to the PM’s Office to address his grievances or else consider the letter as his resignation.
“Jatoi is unhappy with the PM over the meddling into the Ministry of Industries by some influential government officials. Moreover, Jatoi is also aggrieved that no development funds were allocated for his area. Due to these reasons, the minister submitted a letter expressing his reservations to the PM’s office two days back and said that if his concerns cannot be addressed, his letter should be regarded as a resignation which should be accepted forthwith”.
Press Secretary to PM Mohayuddin Wani did not respond when Pakistan Today contacted him to confirm whether or not the PM’s Office had received Jatoi’s resignation.
