Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday reshuffled his Cabinet amidst mounting criticism at the lackluster performance of the government.
The changes were made after finance minister Asad Umarresigned.
The key ministry of interior was assigned to former ISIofficer, Brig (retd) Ijaz Shah who was recently appointed as minister forparliamentary affairs.
He was a confidant of former military dictator GeneralPervez Musharraf. Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto reportedly named himamong three people who were a threat to her life.
Shah was elected as a member of Parliament in last yearelections.
Azam Swati, who stepped down last year as minister ofscience and technology for allegedly using his influence over police toregister a case against a poor family, made a comeback and appointed asminister for parliamentary affairs.
Among other changes, information minister Fawad Chaudhry wasmade minister for science and technology and petroleum minister Ghulam Sarwarmade minister for aviation.
Mohammad Mian Soomro would cease to hold portfolio ofaviation and would be just the minister for privatisation. Minister of Statefor Interior and Shehryar Afridi was shifted and appointed as Minister of Statefor States and Frontier Regions.
Dr Zafarullah Mirza was appointed as Special Assistant toPrime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services in place of Amir Kiani whowas sacked.
Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan was appointed as Special Assistant toPrime Minister on Information and Nadeem Babar appointed as SAPM on PetroleumDivision.
The Prime Minister has not appointed a new finance minister and instead planning to appoint an advisor on finance. Several names were making rounds for the key post. Those being discussed included Dr Abdul Hafiz Sheikh, Dr Hafiz Pasha and Shaukat Tareen. It is the first major reshuffle in the Cabinet since Khan became the prime minister eight months ago.
PTI