No Minister is Being Replaced: Fawad Chaudhry

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has refuted false reports regarding a major reshuffle in the federal cabinet and bureaucracy.

Rumors, aided by media reports on various channels, suggested that Prime Minister Imran Khan had decided to replace and remove some ministers, including Finance Minister Asad Umar, from his cabinet.

However, the Information Minister has denied all of these reports. He took to his Twitter account and said,

حکومتی وزراء کے قلمدان تبدیل کئے جانے کے حوالے سے خبروں میں کوئ صداقت نہیں، وزراء کی تبدیلی وزیر اعظم کا صوابدیدی اختیار ہے میڈیا اس ضمن میں ذمہ داری کا مظاہرہ کرے۔ اس وقت پاکستان اہم مرحلے سے گزر رہا ہے اور اس نوعیت کی قیاس آرائیوں سے ہیجان جنم لیتا ہے، جو ملک کے مفاد میں نہیں

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 15, 2019

“There is no truth in reports regarding changes in posts of federal ministers. It is the prime minister’s discretionary right to change ministers and the media should play a responsible role on this subject.”

“Pakistan is going through an important phase and such speculations creates confusion which is not beneficial for the country,” he added.

Speaking to the media, Chaudhry said, “No minister is being replaced. Prime Minister Imran Khan has sent a message that no minister is being replaced.”

“The reports on the performance of ministers have been forwarded to the PM House,” he stated and added that “ministers are on their posts because the prime minister is satisfied with them.”

“The finance minister is returning after holding discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Asad Umar will brief on talks with IMF once he returns,” he added. “In the next two days, big news is expected regarding the economy.”

Chaudhry further said, “Pakistan is headed towards being a solid economy. Solid development is also emerging on the FATF matter.”

Cabinet Meeting to Review Performance of Ministers

Meanwhile, PM Imran Khan has announced a Federal Cabinet meeting for tomorrow.

According to media reports, the PM Office has performance reports of ministers and they will be presented during a federal cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

All ministries were given two weeks to prepare quarterly reports and they will have 30 minutes to present during the meeting.

“The PM will make decisions regarding changes and transfers after looking at the performance reports.”