Fawad Chaudhry denies reports of reshuffle in ministers' portfolio

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry, on Monday refuted reports regarding reshuffle of portfolios of federal ministers, ARY News reported.

Fawad Chaudhry, in his latest Twitter message, clarified, “There is no truth in reports regarding any reshuffle in portfolios of government ministers.”

“Prime Minister [Imran Khan] has discretionary powers to change ministers and media should exhibit its responsibility in this regards,” he added.

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

Later, the information minister told media that Pakistan was passing through an important phase at the time and such speculations could have resulted in anxiousness [among the nationals] which went against the national interests.

Prime Minister has sent message that wrong reports were being aired on media, he said, adding that such reports should not be run prior to its verification.

Chaudhry said that false reports caused damages to the image of the country and media as well.

“The reports emerge when talks with IMF are in final phase. Major updates are due in next two days regarding national economy,” he said. Chaudhry added, “Progress is also being witnessed in  positive direction pertains to the matter of Financial Action Task Force (FATF).”

The minister confirmed that performance reports of ministers reached out to PM Imran Khan. He said that the nation would be made aware of any development if the government takes any decision regarding ministers’ portfolios.

The information minister further added that Pakistan has held dialogues with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and [Finance Minister] Asad Umar will give a statement regarding the development.

Read More: PM Imran decides to remove Asad Umar as finance minister

Earlier in the day, it has emerged that Prime Minister Imran Khan was mulling over reshuffling his cabinet in light of the performance of federal ministers.

Sources privy to this development say the prime minister will reshuffle the portfolios of five ministers, including Finance Minister Asad Umar, Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan and State Minister for Interior Shehryar Afridi.

Asad Umar will be removed as finance minister and entrusted the portfolio of petroleum minister, whereas Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Brigadier (retd) Ijaz Shah will replace Shehryar Afridi.

Minister for Pakistan Railways Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Minister of Energy Umar Ayoub Khan, and Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed fared better than other ministers and won’t be reshuffled.