Islamabad, Apr 19 (UNI) A day after major reshuffling in the federal cabinet, an updated list of federal ministers, ministers of state and advisers and special assistants to the prime minister was issued on Friday, in which Asad Umar was still listed as holding the portfolio of Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs.
Umar had announced on Thursday that he was stepping down as finance minister after he "convinced the prime minister" that he did not want to remain a part of the cabinet.
"As part of a cabinet reshuffle, [the] prime minister desired that I take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance," he had said. "However, I have obtained his consent to not take any cabinet position."
According to a Dawn report, the notification, listing the cabinet members' names as on "19th April, 2019", makes no mention of Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, who was named as the adviser to the PM while political analysts and journalists were still analysing the possible causes of Umar’s removal in the middle of the negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.
It is yet to be confirmed whether Umar has officially submitted a resignation and if it has been accepted. While the prime minister has the prerogative to reallocate his cabinet and appoint new special assistants with the status of ministers of state, he cannot accept resignations of federal ministers or appoint new advisers.
According to Rules of Business 1973, the premier has to advise the president regarding the resignation of Umar and the appointment of Shaikh as the finance adviser with the status of a federal minister — which will then be approved by the president.
The absence of Umar and Shaikh's names from the Cabinet Division's list could therefore likely be due to the pending approvals by the president.
Prime Minister Imran, in major changes to his cabinet on Thursday, removed a few big shots from key positions — including Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry — and handed over important portfolios to newcomers.
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