–Sarwar says he didn’t refuse ministry
ISLAMABAD: In a follow-up to massive cabinet shuffle on Thursday, former petroleum minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan has refused to assume charge of the alternate aviation ministry.
Sarwar rejected the news that is circulating on media channels regarding lack of interest in aviation portfolio while talking to a media channel on Friday.
In meeting with the prime minister on Thursday, Ghulam Sarwar requested that he be allowed to continue for four months as he could not bring any major improvements in his ministry due to certain issues.
On Thursday, hours after removing Finance Minister Asad Umar from his cabinet, Prime Minister Imran Khan fired several ministers, including Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, for showing unsatisfactory performance in their respective domains.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office late on Thursday, Abdul Hafeez Pasha has given charge of the Finance Ministry as PM’s adviser, replacing Asad Umar who left the cabinet after the PM offered him the portfolio of Energy Ministry.
Firdous Ashiq Awan has been appointed as PM’s special assistant on media affairs while former information minister Fawad Chaudhry will now head Science and Technology Ministry.
Brigadier (r) Ijaz Shah, the newly inducted parliamentary affairs, will take over the Interior Ministry as a federal minister, replacing Shehryar Afridi, who will now head Safron [State and Frontier Region] Ministry as a state minister.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Azam Swati, who resigned last year, has been appointed as minister for parliamentary affairs.
Mohammadmian Soomro, the federal minister for privatisation, shall cease to hold the additional portfolio of the aviation division. Ghulam Sarwar Khan, who reportedly refused to leave the cabinet after being sacked from the post, has been given Aviation Division. Nadeem Babar has replaced Sarwar as the PM’s adviser on petroleum.
Health Minister Amir Mehmood Kiyani has been let go off and Zafarullah will take charge of his ministry as PM’s special adviser.
