Daily Times

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government on Thursday removed Asad Umar as finance minister.

In a tweet the finance minister confirmed that as part of a cabinet reshuffle.

“As part of a cabinet reshuffle PM desired that I take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance. However, I have obtained his consent to not take any cabinet position. I strongly believe @ImranKhanPTI is the best hope for Pakistan and inshallah will make a naya Pakistan,” Umar tweeted.

After Umar’s tweet announcing his decision to leave the cabinet, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto congratulated the nation saying the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) first wicket had fallen.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has also tweeted in response to the on-going situation.

Other journalists and politicians shared their reactions to the change in the government’s make-up.

An hour after Asad Umar announced that he is stepping down as finance minister, held a press conference and said that it was time to make some “difficult decisions” to stabilise the economy and that he hopes his replacement would be supported in their efforts.

During the press conference, Umar said that he was asked to take the energy portfolio following a reshuffle in the cabinet.

“I met the prime minister this morning and convinced him that I did not want to take any portfolio,” he said.

“This does not mean that I am not available to forward PTI’s vision for ‘Naya Pakistan’. I am and will always be available to forward the interests of this country.”

In response to a question about the earlier reports of reshuffling in the cabinet, he said: “I was first told [about this portfolio change] last night.”

“I think, as per my discussion with the prime minister, other changes [in the cabinet] will be announced either tonight or tomorrow morning.”