ISLAMABAD: A tug-of-war is continuing between two senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders — Fawad Chaudhry and Nadeem Afzal Chan — to become the spokesperson of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Fawad is the incumbent Federal Minister for Science and Technology while Chan is currently the official spokesman of the prime minister.
According to sources, Fawad is making efforts to replace Chan as the PM’s spokesman. On Friday, rumours started making rounds on the social media that Chan has resigned from his post and PM Imran has decided to appoint Fawad Chaudhry in his place.
However, informed sources confirmed to Pakistan Today that Chan has not tendered resignation and is still the PM’s official spokesperson.
“These rumours are being intentionally spread to influence Fawad’s appointment,” said the source, adding that the situation will become clearer after the prime minister will formally notify the replacement.
If appointed, Fawad will serve as the premier’s spokesperson in addition to managing his science and technology portfolio.
Fawad, who served as an information minister before the recent cabinet reshuffle, is known for his scathing attacks on the opposition leadership. He was also barred from a Senate session by the chairman for his repeated verbal assaults on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senator Mushahidullah.
After becoming the science and technology minister, the minister has gone after the clergy for their monopoly over moon-sighting, giving birth to a new controversy. He also introduced a moon-sighting application to end the controversy concerning Eid crescent.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the PM on Media Iftikhar Durrani has also been displaying a lack of interest in his role. He was sent to the tribal districts for election campaigning but was sidelined soon after the polls.
The chamber given to Durrani at the PM’s Office remains vacant and he was also not invited to the past few sessions of the cabinet.
According to the PM’s Office, Durrani continues to hold the position but he is not performing duties at his office and spends time at the party office in Islamabad.