Facing severe criticism over her handling of government affairs, Pakistan’s information minister Firdous Ashiq Awan offered to resign on Sunday, but Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani “tore up” her resignation letter, asking her to continue.
Addressing Mr Gilani during a televised Cabinet meeting in Karachi, Ms Awan, 41, said: “While endorsing your leadership, I don’t think I can continue as a member of the Cabinet. With your permission, I would like to submit my resignation.”
Ms Awan, who was elected to the National Assembly from Sialkot, broke down as she said she did not wish to carry on working as a minister when her party and Cabinet colleagues were not satisfied with her performance. — PTI
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Maya surprise: 4 mantris under fire get sacked
Amita Verma
Lucknow, Dec. 25
In a surprise move, UP chief minister Mayawati on Sunday night dismissed four ministers — Rakesh Dhar Tripathi (higher education), Rajpal Tyagi (agricultural education), Avadesh Kumar Varma (backward class welfare) and Hari Om Upadhyay (home guard).
This move comes immediately after the announcement of Assembly elections. They were facing allegations of corruption and land-grabbing for the past few months, but the inquiries against them are still pending.
Several others, including senior minister Nasee-muddin Siddiqui, are facing similar charges, but no action was initiated against them.