The outgoing Finance Minister Asad Umar announced on Thursday to step down. Later, in a interview, Umar said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was not happy with his performance and decided to remove him from the post.
According to journalist Ashraf Malkham's story on Geo TV, PM Khan broke news of Asad's removal as FM to him via WhatsApp. Malkham said that Asad felt 'slighted' by Khan's gesture and that the conversation went on for quite some time.
Imran Khan offered him the ministry for petroleum instead. He refused. The next offer was to continue to head a selection of cabinet committees, but Umar refused all offers. In an interview the day of his removal, Umar said that 'his stress levels dropped significantly' the moment the news was shared with him.
But Malkham's said that the outgoing minister had an idea of what was cooking.
"Those privy to the development say that a week ago the prime minister decided to place a technocrat, instead of a politician, in the ministry for finance. Asad Umar wasn’t completely in the dark either. The word had gotten around to him," Malkham said.
Malkham also mentioned reasons for Umar's removal including his inability to control inflation and displease of party leaders.
"Umar was seen as being responsible for failing to control inflation, for taking too long to decide whether Pakistan needed another bailout package, and for not being able to secure adequate funds from friendly countries. Within the party, the loudest critic was Murad Saeed."
Several other PTI ministers were also removed or handed different portfolios. Among them were Fawad Chaudhry, Shehryar Afridi, Ghulam Sarwar, Ijaz Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Mian Soomro.
But what happened prior to Asad Umar's announcement?
According to journalist Ashraf Malkham's story on Geo TV, PM Khan broke news of Asad's removal as FM to him via WhatsApp. Malkham said that Asad felt 'slighted' by Khan's gesture and that the conversation went on for quite some time.
Imran Khan offered him the ministry for petroleum instead. He refused. The next offer was to continue to head a selection of cabinet committees, but Umar refused all offers. In an interview the day of his removal, Umar said that 'his stress levels dropped significantly' the moment the news was shared with him.
But Malkham's said that the outgoing minister had an idea of what was cooking.
"Those privy to the development say that a week ago the prime minister decided to place a technocrat, instead of a politician, in the ministry for finance. Asad Umar wasn’t completely in the dark either. The word had gotten around to him," Malkham said.
Malkham also mentioned reasons for Umar's removal including his inability to control inflation and displease of party leaders.
Umar's biggest critic in PTI is Murad Saeed.
"Umar was seen as being responsible for failing to control inflation, for taking too long to decide whether Pakistan needed another bailout package, and for not being able to secure adequate funds from friendly countries. Within the party, the loudest critic was Murad Saeed."
Several other PTI ministers were also removed or handed different portfolios. Among them were Fawad Chaudhry, Shehryar Afridi, Ghulam Sarwar, Ijaz Ahmad Shah and Muhammad Mian Soomro.