Punjab Wildlife & Fisheries Minister Asad Khokhar shown the door

Punjab Minister for Wildlife and Fisheries Malik Asad Khokhar has resigned from his ministry, reported 24NewsHD TV.

According to sources, Khokhar’s resignation came a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Lahore where he chaired several meetings, including one with provincial lawmakers. At the meeting, MPAs came up with several complaints.

The sources said the decision to remove Khokhar from the provincial cabinet was taken in consultation with the prime minister. However, Khokhar, according to the news channel, said he had resigned from the cabinet and was not removed.

But the sources confirmed to 24NewsHD TV that Khokhar did not tender his resignation on his own; he was told to do so. He had also tried to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan at Bani Gala recently.

According to the sources, Khokhar has been accused of corruption and it’s said he had been doing so in connivance with some bureaucrats. Also, he allegedly tried to disrupt the Ring Road Phase III project, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit to Lahore last month.

There are reports that Bilal Lodhi was appointed Lahore commissioner on Khokhar’s recommendation. Khokhar also strongly objected to removal of the S&GAD secretary.

According to the sources, the trio – Khokhar, S&GAD secretary and the Lahore commissioner – has been ganging up against the road project.

Amid allegations of corruption against him, the wildlife minister was told to send his resignation to the prime minister once he returns to Islamabad. In response, the minister sent his hand-written resignation to the Punjab chief minister.

The TV channel tried to contact Khokhar, but found his cell phone switched off.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has accepted Khokhar’s resignation.

Sources said that Khokhar’s appointment as provincial minister in December was not welcomed and he was not awarded any portfolio even several months after his appointment.

Khokhar won the by-election against PML-N candidate Khalid Mehmood Qadri on a ticket of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Also on Saturday, Lahore Commissioner Asif Bilal Lodhi was transferred and directed to report to the Establishment Division.

This is the fifth time in the last 23 months that Lahore commissioner has been changed. Services Secretary Shoaib Akbar was also repatriated to the federal government.

CM’s focal person in UK

According to INP, senior PTI leader in UK Aftab Ahmed has been appointed focal person to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. He would listen to overseas Pakistanis and address their complaints.

According to a notification issued by Punjab Chief Minister’s Office, "The Competent Authority has been pleased to appoint Mr Aftab Ahmed S/O Aish Mohammad as focal person for complaints of overseas Pakistanis in the United Kingdom with immediate effect."

According to the agreement, Ahmed has been appointed on an honorary basis to address complaints of overseas Pakistanis in the United Kingdom.

Nearly 1.5 million British Pakistanis trace their roots to Pakistan and most of them frequently travel to and from Pakistan. According to Britain’s Foreign Office, around 100,000 British Pakistanis are present in Pakistan at any time.

Ahmed, who is a British national and lives in East London, will also analyse and evaluate the data of complaints and submit a report to the Punjab chief minister every month along with his recommendations to resolve these issues.

This notification about his appointment was issued on February 11, but its implementation was delayed due to the coronavirus crisis.

The appointment was announced by Azhar Mashwani, Punjab CM’s focal person on Digital and Social Media. "Overseas Pakistanis residing in the UK can send their complaints/grievances to Aftab Ahmed,” he said.