Ijaz Ahmed Shah MNA notified as new federal minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Nankana Sahib Ijaz Ahmad Shah, has been announced as a federal minister in a government notification, ARY News reported on Friday.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier approved a summary for naming Brig. (retd) Ijaz Shah as a member of his federal cabinet. A decision with regard to the portfolio of the new minister will be taken later, sources said.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry, confirmed that the appointment was approved by the President Dr Arif Alvi over the recommendation of PM Imran Khan.

Mr Shah will perform his duties as Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, said information minister.

وزیر اعظم پاکستان کے مشورے پر صدر مملکت نے بریگیڈئر ریٹائرڈ اعجازُ شاہ کو وفاقی وزیر بنانے کی منظوری دی ہے، اعجاز شاہ پارلیمانی امور کے وفاقی وزیر کی حیثیت سے ذمہ داریاں انجام دیں گے

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) March 29, 2019

The new federal minister has a strong background in military service.

The legislator is a former Pakistan Army officer who had been retired as Brigadier and performed his duties as Sector Commander of Military Intelligence in Punjab. He was also appointed as Director General of Intelligence Bureau (IB).

He contested election for NA-118 (Nankana Sahib-II) and defeated rival Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz candidate in a close contest by securing 63,818 votes followed by  PML-N’s Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal with 61,413 votes.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan has promoted Murad Saeed as a federal minister on December 14 last year. Prior to his promotion, Murad Saeed had been performing duties as State Minister for Communications and Postal Services.