Minister of State for Narcotics Control Shehryar Afridi on Wednesday was elected as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir; nearly a month after the coveted slot fell vacant as a result of federal cabinet reshuffle in connection with the sugar crisis scandal.
In the scheduled meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, the panel members elected Afridi as their Chairman following the resignation of Fakhar Imam last month from the committee's Chairmanship. Both Afridi and Imam represent the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in the National Assembly.
On April 6, Prime Minister Imran Khan had reshuffled some slots of his cabinet and elevated Imam as Federal Minister for National Food Security. Imam replaced Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtyar who was appointed as Federal Minister for Economic Affairs. His portfolio was changed after a months-long inquiry suggested the involvement of some leaders of the PTI, and its coalition partners in the sugar crises in the country, including Bakhtyar and Jehangir Khan Tareen. Tareen was regarded as one of the most trusted confidantes of the PM till the inquiry report on sugar crisis strained this relationship. Secretary National Food Security Nasim Sadiq was also removed from his position and replaced by Omar Hamid Khan.
Imam had resigned forthwith from the position of Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir after joining the federal cabinet but his resignation was accepted by Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser on April 16. Imam had taken charge as the Committee's Chairman on March 1, 2019.
The speaker NA had nominated Afridi as a member of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir to replace Imam, in an obvious move to pave way for his elevation as the panel's chairman keeping in view that the prestigious slot is traditionally held by a member from treasury benches. The new chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir was elected on May 13, which means that the prestigious slot remained vacant for nearly a month.
It was not clear till the filing of this report on Wednesday night whether Afridi, who also holds the additional portfolio of Minister of State for Narcotics Control, would quit his cabinet portfolios or retain them, following his election as Chairman Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir.
"Humbled & honoured on election as Chairman of Parliament's Special Committee on Kashmir. Thankful to Allah, indebted to my Prime Minister, members of the committee, my party 4 reposing trust in me. Will leave no stone unturned to raise Kashmiris voice at all fora IA @ImranKhanPTI," Afridi tweeted on Wednesday shortly after his election as the committee's Chairman.
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