After Hammad Azhar’s appointment as Finance Minister replacing Hafeez Shaikh, several political leaders extend congratulatory messages to him over his new position.
Whereas, other Opposition leaders termed Hafeez Shaikh’s replacement as a victory.
Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the federal government move to sack the finance minister Hafeez Shaikh is the victory of the Pakistan Democratic Movement.
While took to Twitter Bilawal said, “PTIMF minister needed to be elected to continue in post & senate defeat made that impossible. Now government admits inflation is skyrocketing because of its failed policies. The parliamentary opposition has proven most effective vs this regime.”
Sacking Finance minister is victory of PDM. PTIMF minister needed to be elected to continue in post & senate defeat made that impossible. Now government admits inflation is skyrocketing because of its failed policies. Parliamentary opposition proven most effective vs this regime.
— Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 29, 2021
Replying to Bilawal, Minister for Information Shibli Faraz in his tweet said that the former finance minister is a very sophisticated and hardworking man. As a financial advisor, he carried out government affairs with diligence and national spirit.
“Despite difficult circumstances, he contributed to the economic betterment of the country. We fully appreciate his efforts,” he added.
حفیظ شیخ صاحب نہایت نفیس اور محنتی انسان ہیں۔انہوں نے بطور مشیر خزانہ حکومتی امور تندہی اور قومی جذبے سے انجام دیے۔مشکل حالات کے باوجود انہوں نے ملک کی معاشی بہتری میں حصہ ڈالا۔ انکی کاوشوں کو قدر کی نگاہ سے دیکھتے ہیں۔
— Senator Shibli Faraz (@shiblifaraz) March 29, 2021
Note that, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz has said that Minister for Industry and Production Hamad Azhar has been given the portfolio of the Finance Ministry in place of Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.
According to sources, the Prime Minister was also worried about inflation while Abdul Hafeez Sheikh as Finance Minister failed to control inflation. He is also the head of the National Price Control Committee.
The second reason for removing Hafeez Shaikh is the order of the Islamabad High Court that only elected representatives can head the cabinet committee.
Following the court’s decision, Shaikh was promoted from Finance Adviser to Finance Minister, while Hafeez Sheikh was sworn in as Finance Minister on December 10.
Under the constitution, the minister was to be elected to the National Assembly or the Senate within six months. Hafeez Sheikh’s six-month term as finance minister will expire on June 9.
The Prime Minister has decided to give the pen to the elected representative for negotiations and budget with the IMF.
Sources said that Hamad Azhar is being made the finance minister in view of his double budget presentation.
The move by the federal government comes just weeks after the defeat of Abdul Hafeez Shaikh by joint PDM candidate Yousuf Raza Gilani in the March 3 Senate general election in Islamabad.
