Another cabinet reshuffle in offing

Asad Umar to be given petroleum or planning portfolio

ISLAMABAD: Unsatisfied with the performance of his ministers, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday hinted at another major cabinet reshuffle following a parliamentary party meeting of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

According to sources, among those who are likely to return to the cabinet is former finance minister Asad Umar, whose name is under consideration for the portfolio of either planning and development or petroleum.

Sources said the decision had been taken in response to the meeting during which tempers flared high as PTI lawmaker Arbab Amir lost his cool while complaining to the premier about the “unacceptable behaviour of the cabinet members”.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the ruling party lawmaker was reduced to tears while stating that he was unable to resolve the issues of his constituency due to the uncooperative behaviour of the federal ministers.

Meanwhile, the premier directed the ministers to resolve the issues of the treasury members regarding the complaints. He also said that there would be another change of portfolios, with those cabinet members axed whose performance was not up to the mark.

Imran also assured the ministers that he would meet lawmakers in-person to address their grievances.

Umar reportedly supported the grievances shared by the lawmakers, saying that he had become more cognisant of their issues now that he had more time to spend with them as opposed to federal ministers.

It was then that PM Imran replied that the situation was going to change soon as “I want Umar to be part of the federal cabinet again”, said sources.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Umar neither confirmed nor denied his return to the cabinet.

This isn’t the first time that there has been the talk of Umar’s return to the inner circle after his controversial resignation earlier this year.

It was part of a massive overhaul, with five new faces taking up key portfolios along with the appointment of a trio of special assistants and an adviser on finance.

According to the grapevine, some of those who were given key portfolios during the April reshuffle was also among those likely to be replaced.

The PM’s aide on information, Firdous Ashiq Awan, and science and technology minister, Fawad Chaudhry, are also among who could be replaced, sources add.