PM Imran Khan accepts Asim Saleem Bajwa's resignation

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday relieved retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa of his additional portfolio of special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting.

"I requested the honourable prime minister to relinquish me from the additional portfolio of SAPM on Info & broadcasting. He very kindly approved my request," Asim Bajwa tweeted on Monday. 

However, Bajwa will continue working as chairman of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor.

It is not clear why the prime minister had a change of heart.

Interestingly, Bajwa announced his resignation hours after former SAPM on media Affairs Yousaf Baig Mirza met PM Imran Khan accompanied by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shehzad Akbar.

Details of the meeting were not shared, but the meeting itself was announced by PM Office on Twitter.

The two developments have led some to speculate that PM Imran Khan may be changing his media strategy as the opposition ups the ante against the ruling party.

A month ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan had refused to accept Bajwa's resignation after the latter offered to step down following a story alleging that his family had a large stake in several international businesses and had considerable assets abroad. 

The Prime Minister's Office had announced that the resignation notice had been received, but the premier had turned it down.

Also read: PM Imran Khan refuses to accept Asim Bajwa's resignation

The prime minister was quoted as saying that he was satisfied with the clarification Bajwa had provided about his personal finances and business in response to the article.

PM Imran Khan had appointed Bajwa as SAPM on Information and Broadcasting along with Federal Minister for Information Shibli Faraz.

The two had been appointed in April 2020 in place of Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan.