Prime Minister Imran Khan is considering replacing Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry with Babar Awan but has deferred the decision till the expected cabinet reshuffle, informed sources told Business Recorder. The cabinet reshuffle has been on the cards for some time and sources maintain that the Prime Minister may take a final decision with regard to replacing Fawad Chaudhry at that time. Babar Awan sources maintain is at present the favourite for the position and may be made the Advisor to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting.
Awan is currently facing an inquiry of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and he can only be entrusted with the portfolio once he is cleared by the corruption watchdog. Sources further revealed that the Prime Minister offered the portfolio of minister of information and broadcasting to Shafqat Mehmood, who is currently Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, National History and Literary Heritage and to a few others in the party, but they politely declined the offer.
Sources privy to the development told Business Recorder that Prime Minister Khan has asked both Fawad Chuadhry and his Advisor on Political Affairs Naeem-ul-Haq to refrain from discussing their differences in public.
Naeem-ul-Haq recently stated that the Prime Minister is considering a cabinet reshuffle in response to a question about the possibility of replacement of Fawad Chaudhry.
Haq and Chaudhry engaged in a public spat with the latter seeking the dismissal of Managing Director, Pakistan Television (PTV), Arshad Khan, while Naeemul Haq wanted to retain him. Sources added that Chaudhry is likely to get another portfolio in case he is removed as the minister for information and broadcasting.
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