KARACHI: Federal Minister for Information Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan withdrew her resignation on Sunday. She made the surprise announcement at a televised cabinet meeting but Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani persuaded her to withdraw her resignation. The prime minister was seen tearing her resignation on television.

A teary-eyed Awan delivered an emotional speech in the cabinet meeting, and had criticised the policies of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). She said that she still supports the PPP.

She had said that she does not need to be part of a ministry which poses problems for the party and does not consider herself worthy of fulfilling her role as a minister any longer. She did not cite any other reason.

However, some say failure to defend the government in the "memogate" scandal was the reason for her resignation.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2011