Pak PM hurriedly reshuffles cabinet after ‘intel leaks’
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has hurriedly reshuffled his cabinet after a damning inquiry report into the country’s sugar and wheat crisis was allegedly leaked by intelligence agencies to the media.
Khan dismisses Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar as food security minister in an apparent bid to shield himself from those at the centre of the accusations. Bakhtiar was given the charge for the economic affairs ministry. The move came after two intelligence reports were made public. Bakhtiar, the ruling PTI’S bigwig Jahangir Tareen as well as Monis Elahi of PML-Q and their relatives were named among those involved in the scam. Tareen, the former secretary general of PTI, was removed as the chairperson of the task force on agriculture. The PM’S Adviser Arbab Shahzad has also been removed.
Off i c i a l s c l a i m t hat t he reports were made public on the directives of Khan who, according to Special Assistant on Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar, had ordered stern action against those found involved in the crises “irrespective of their status and party affiliation”. But many have said that the reports were leaked by an intelligence agency.
Hours after the inquiry report saw the light of the day, the prime minister tweeted, “I await the detailed forensic reports now by the high-powered commission, which will come out on 25th April, before taking action. Inshaallah, after these reports come out, no powerful lobby will be a bl e t o prof i t e e r a t t he expense of our public”.