Several federal ministers, including Prime Minister Imran Khan are reportedly making efforts to convince former Finance Minister and close aide of PM Imran , ‘Asad Umar’, to rejoin the federal cabinet. Earlier sources said that even after one-to-one meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Umar is not ready to take any charge as federal minister.
However now reports are circulating that PM Khan has approved Asad Umar as the chairman for the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs and Khan has informed Asad Umar of his decision and issued directives to National Assembly Chief Whip Amir Dogar.
At present, PTI MNA Faiz Ullah is the chairman of the standing committee. According to rules, Asad Umar will first be made a member of the committee and then appointed chairman. However, the reports have not been confirmed by any concerned authority.
During a meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Parliamentary Party, Prime Minister Imran Khan said removing Asad Umar as finance minister was a difficult decision, however, he still considered him his right hand. Asad Umar quit last month as finance minister after PM Imran Khan asked him to take portfolio of petroleum, which he refused and opted to step down. Later on, Dr Hafeez Sheikh was tasked with the responsibility of running the affairs of finance.
