PM Imran reshuffles cabinet; Khusro Bakhtiar, Hammad Azhar given new portfolios

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1) Cabinet has been reshuffled by Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> <br><br>Syed Fakhar Imam has been made Federal Minister for National Food Security <br><br>Makhdoon Khusru Bakhtiyar has been made Federal Minister for Economic Affairs <br><br>Hammad Azhar has been made Federal Minister for Industries</p>— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1247144708939415553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2) Mr Azam Sawati has been made Federal Minister for Narcotics Control <br><br>Mr Babar Awan has been appointed as Advisor for Parliamentary Affairs <br><br>Mr Mohammad Shahzad Arbab has been removed as Advisor<br><br>Resignation of Mr. Khalid Maqbool Siddique as Federal Minister has been accepted</p>— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1247144711921577985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3) Mr. Amin ul Haq has been appointed as Federal Minister for Telecom <br><br>Mr. Hashim Popalzai removed as Secretary Ministry of National Food Security & Research<br><br>Mr Omar Hameed transferred and appointed as Secretary Ministry of National Food Security</p>— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PakPMO/status/1247144714350051328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Prime Minister Imran Khan reshuffled the federal cabinet on Monday, a few days after an FIA investigation report identified top PTI leaders as being responsible for the sugar and wheat crisis.


Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Khusro Bakhtiar resigned from the ministry and has now been appointed as minister for economic affairs, replacing Hammad Azhar.

Azhar has been assigned the portfolio of industries, Azam Swati has been made the minister of narcotics control. Babar Awan has been made the advisor for parliamentary affairs, replacing Swati.

The government has transferred and appointed Omar Hameed as Secretary Ministry of National Food Security.

Resignation of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui as federal minister has been accepted, while MQMP’s Amin-ul-Haq has been appointed as Federal Minister for Telecommunication.

Advisor to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Establishment, Shehzad Arbab, has been removed from his position.

The PM's adviser on commerce, textile, industry and production, and investment, Abdul Razak Dawood, was also removed from his position, sources informed Geo News. It was, however, unclear if he had been given another post.

Mr Babar Awan has been appointed as Advisor for Parliamentary Affairs

Mr Mohammad Shahzad Arbab has been removed as Advisor

Resignation of Mr. Khalid Maqbool Siddique as Federal Minister has been accepted

Furthermore, Hashim Popalzai has been removed as Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

In a tweet, Tareen refuted reports that he was removed as the chair of the agricultural task force, urging people to "get your facts right". However, former Punjab government spokesperson and PTI leader Dr Shahbaz Gill took to Twitter and said that Tareen had been removed as the chairperson of the board.

Earlier, a report by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had claimed that top PTI members were among those who gained from the recent sugar crisis in the country.

An investigation into the crisis had been ordered by Prime Minister Imran Khan in February.

Among the people named in the FIA report are Jahangir Tareen and a brother of Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar.

Tareen was said by the report to have benefitted the most from the sugar crisis followed by Bakhtiar's brother.

The report also claims that the companies belonging to Moonis Elahi — an ally of the party — profited from the sugar crisis. Elahi is Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi's son and a key member of the PML-Q.

The document does not mention under whose influence Punjab government issued subsidies to sugar mills or why the Economic Coordination Council (ECC) approved the decision to export sugar.

Reacting to the report, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said he has faith that whatever the situation, Prime Minister Imran Khan "will ensure justice".

Tareen, PTI's former general secretary, said that out of the Rs3bn subsidy to the sugar mills, Rs2.5bn were given when the PML-N was in power.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had said he would take action against those responsible for the sugar and wheat price hike after he sees the detailed forensic report of the preliminary findings.

"I await the detailed forensic reports now by the high-powered commission, which will come out on 25 April, before taking action," the prime minister said in a tweet.

without alteration/tampering.This is unprecedented in Pak's history.Prev pol ldrships bec of their vested interests & compromises lacked moral courage to order & release such reports

Punjab Food Minister Samiullah Chaudhry tendered his resignation on Monday over alleged inaction on reforms regarding the food industry.

In his resignation, Chaudhry said he resigned after meeting Chief Minister Punjab, Usman Buzdar.

In the letter, the provincial food minister said that he faced allegation that he could not bring reforms in the department, adding that until the clearance of accusations he would not hold any government office.

“I am willing to sacrifice thousands of such ministries for completing the agenda of Imran Khan,” he wrote.

Calling the allegations baseless, the provincial minister said that he is voluntarily stepping back.

The letter said that the minister is willing to present himself for accountability at every forum.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/281278-khushro-bakhtiar-removed-as-food-security-minister

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to strengthen institutions, not individuals, said Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Monday, a few hours after the prime minister made important changes to the federal cabinet following an FIA report that mentioned some PTI leaders who benefited from the sugar and wheat crises in the country.

Referring to the prime minister's cabinet reshuffle, Dr Firdous said that the aim behind the decision was to 'introduce self-accountability' in the country.

"The prime minister wants to strengthen institutions, not individuals," she said. "It can't be tolerated that the public's rights are usurped and that a particular group takes advantage of it," she added.

The press conference by the prime minister's media advisor came a few hours after PM Imran changed the portfolios of his cabinet members, the most notable shuffle being former food minister Khusro Bakhtiar being assigned the ministry of economic affairs.

On Saturday, an FIA report had said that senior PTI leader Jahangir Tareen and Bakhtiar's brother benefited the most from the sugar crisis that took place in January this year.

Saying that it was necessary to inform the masses about the premier's decision, Dr Firdous stated that PM Imran had become the voice of the 95% and that the government will take legal action against anyone found working against the masses' interest.

"The 5% elite have usurped the rights of the 95%," she said. "Putting an end to the hardships of the public is the government's topmost priority."

Dr Firdous said that the government was waiting for the forensic report on the sugar crisis which will be released this month. She said that PM Imran had proven that "there were no sacred cows" in the country and that no other government in Pakistan's history had taken such a decision before.

The prime minister seems adamant on taking action against anyone found involved in the sugar and wheat crises as the premier took to Twitter on Sunday to say that he was awaiting the forensic report on the sugar crisis.

“After these reports come out no powerful lobby will be able to profiteer at the expense of our public,” he had tweeted.

“This is unprecedented in Pakistan’s history. Previous political leaderships because of their vested interests and compromises lacked the moral courage to order and release such reports,” he had further tweeted.

Reacting to the FIA report, Tareen said he stood with the prime minister and would challenge the investigation committee if it found him responsible for the sugar crisis.

"I'm in constant contact with the prime minister and I stand with him," Tareen had said, adding that he had provided 20,000 tonnes of sugar to utilities stores at Rs67 a kilo, saving the people Rs250 million.

"If I had not sold sugar at Rs67 a kilo, I'd have donated Rs250 million to the Prime Minister's Corona Relief Fund," he added.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/281318-ca...ts-to-strengthen-institutions-not-individuals

 

[Kianig89]

Merry go round continues is this circus
We need specialist qualified persons to run these offices not this musical chair
Bar Asad Umar and Murad Saeed no minister has satisfactory performance

They should have been fired

 

[MenInG]

Imran Khan needs to distance himself from anyone tainted.

 

[hafeezrocks]

Its panic time in the government