Federal Minister Riaz Pirzada resigns, accuses PM's principal secretary of interference

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Riaz Pirzada has tendered his resignation and sent it to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

In his resignation letter, Pirzada says that during the current tenure repeated requests for a meeting with the prime minister were denied. According to Pirzada this adversely affected the working of his ministry since the envisioned progressive initiatives could not be implemented. 

Pirzada wrote that there was continued interference in his ministry and affiliated departments by the PM's principal secretary. "This suggests a lack of confidence in my abilities or a loss of faith and trust."  

The minister adds that the interference has not only distressed him but also clipped his powers. "Clip the wings of the bird and ask it to fly," Pirzada writes.  

“I have been insulted so many times by the principal secretary that I do not want to return…I will now speak in the assembly,” Pirzada said while speaking to the media. 

The minister had also expressed his reservations over the removal of DG Sports Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera who was suspended for three months by the federal government. In the notification of suspension, there was no charge mentioned against the DG. 

Lashing out against the prime minister’s principal secretary and secretary establishment over the removal of Dr Ganjera, Pirzada said there was pilferage in every department but even if all the corruption in the sports board over the years is totalled, it would be less than one-hundred-thousandth of the corruption those behind Ganjera’s removal are involved in.

He said his team had worked hard and the result of their sweat and blood was evident in the rise of the sports board. He alleged that certain quarters were eyeing the sports board, waiting for millions to come to the board before they would appoint their own cronies to pilfer funds for themselves.

Pirzada claimed that it is likely the prime minister does not have any idea about the removal of Dr Ganjera and added that he would not speak against the prime minister whom he still considers his leader.