Pirzada to be back as IPC minister

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Riaz Pirzada on Friday agreed to withdraw his resignation when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif assured him that all his grievances would be addressed during a one-on-one meeting between the two in Islamabad before the cabinet meeting which was convened to approve the federal budget.

A source close to the minister told this correspondent that it was hundred percent confirmed that Pirzada would rejoin his ministry as he was given the assurance by the PM.

The source said that the meeting between the two was held around 2:30 pm, just before the cabinet meeting.

Pirzada also attended the budget meeting which confirmed that the minister had agreed to make a comeback.

The source said that the minister apprised the PM about the impediments which he had been facing as the federal minister for inter-provincial coordination, a ministry which handles sports matters besides a few others.

Pirzada had tendered resignation at the end of last month in protest when the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Director General Dr Akhtar Nawaz Ganjera was suspended for unspecified charges.

Because of Ganjera’s suspension, the second Quaid-e-Azam Inter-Provincial Games, which were slated to be held early this month in Islamabad, had been postponed.

Ganjera has been suspended for three months and an inquiry is expected to be initiated against him.

But a source said that Pirzada’s comeback would definitely help Ganjera as both have been very close during the last four years.

Currently the IPC Joint Secretary Khayyal Zad Gul is acting as DG PSB.

This correspondent tried to contact Pirzada but he was not receiving the calls.

After sending a resignation letter to the PM last month Pirzada had blasted the PM’s Principal Secretary and Establishment Secretary for creating hurdles in his work.