Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan steps down as special assistant to CM Punjab

LAHORE:  Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Punjab Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has stepped down from her position, Geo News reported Friday.

Her resignation has been duly accepted by the Chief Minister of Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, a notification issued by the Punjab CM's Office confirmed.

"Chief Minister has been pleased to accept the enclosed resignation tendered by Ms Firdous Ashiq Awan from the office of Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information," the statement read. "Further necessary action may be taken accordingly." 

Prior to assuming the charge as CM Punjab's aide, Prime Minister Imran Khan had appointed Dr Firdous as the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting in April 2019. She had replaced Fawad Chaudhry, who at that time was the minister of science and technology.

Reason for resignation

Speaking during Geo News' programme "Naya Pakistan," Dr Awan said that she had submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan for the first time during the by-election in Sialkot because she wanted to contest freely in the election.

However, PM Khan’s disapproval of her resignation led her to keep serving as the Punjab CM Usman Buzdar’s aide.

According to Awan, she had had several discussions on the matter with CM Buzdar, and today, in another meeting in the same context, Buzdar conveyed the PM’s message to her.

"CM Buzdar told me that PM Khan wants to assign me responsibility in the Centre but consultations over the matter are still underway," she said. “I am committed to PM Khan and I will act according to his will,”

When asked if she had been asked to resign, Awan said that she has stepped down from her position voluntarily.

She claimed that the decision will benefit PTI in the best way.

“I left the post for someone who could work for the image-building of the CM in a better way,” said Awan.