ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Asad Umar has relinquished his responsibilities as the Federal Minister for Finance.
In a tweet on Thursday, Asad Umar told that Prime Minister Imran Khan wanted him to take the responsibility as the Energy Minister; however, he choose not to be the part of the Federal Cabinet any longer.
Asad Umar said that the prime minister agreed to his decision.
“I strongly believe Imran Khan is the best hope for Pakistan and inshallah will make a Naya Pakistan,” the finance minister said.
As part of a cabinet reshuffle PM desired that I take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance. However, I have obtained his consent to not take any cabinet position. I strongly believe @ImranKhanPTI is the best hope for Pakistan and inshallah will make a naya pakistan
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 18, 2019
The outgoing Finance Minister Asad Umar will address a press conference in Islamabad at 3:15 pm today after announcing to step down.
Sources said that names of Ishrat Hussain, Shamshad Akhtar, Omer Ayub Khan, and Shaukat Tareen are being pondered for being appointed as the Finance Advisor.
The removal of Asad Umar as the Finance Minister comes as part of the major Cabinet reshuffle, which the Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had already denied.
As per media reports, apart from Asad Umar, the State Minister for Interior Shahryar Afridi and the Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan along with two others would also lose their portfolios.
Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Shah, who was inducted in the Federal Cabinet earlier this month as the Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, would be the full-fledged Minister for Interior.
