Sheikh Rasheed says not replacing Fawad as information minister

KARACHI: Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed on Saturday rejected media reports and said neither he had any difference with Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry nor he was taking over his ministry, ARY News reported.

To a query, if Sheikh Rasheed is taking charge of Fawad Chaudhry’s ministry, the former said, “Nobody is taking anything from anyone. Everyone is doing his best uptil now.”

Talking exclusively to ARY News, he said respect for the prime minister apart, but even if Imran Khan asked him to assume charge of Fawad’s ministry he would not do so.

The railways minister said he said something in jest which was misunderstood. He said he asked Fawad, who is in London, to return to Pakistan. “Neither I have any motivation to become information minister nor I will become one ever,” he said.

“Handling affairs of the Ministry of Information is the most difficult job in the world for you are blamed for wrong projection of somebody else’s performance,” he said.

On the flip side, the information minister in a tweet said he would be happy to vacate his position for Sheikh Rasheed, however it was the prime minister who decided who was best fit in the role.

“I will be more than happy to vacate my position for Sheikh Rasheed sb and serve as MNA, we all use trust powers bestowed by people of Pakistan and PM decides who is best fit in the role. However, till I am minister I will not bow to blackmailing of advertisement lobby,” he said.