Pakistan's Finance Minister Asad Umar abruptly quit the Cabinet Thursday in the middle of the negotiations to secure a crucial multi-billion dollar IMF bailout package for the cash-strapped country, amid mounting criticism over the handling of the economic crisis.
Umar, who recently returned from a trip to the US in which the details of Pakistan's next International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout were finalised, said he was asked to take the energy portfolio following a reshuffle in the Cabinet.
"As part of a cabinet reshuffle, prime minister desired that I take the energy minister portfolio instead of finance," said Umar, one of the close aides of the prime minister. "However, I have obtained his consent to not take any cabinet position."
Responding to a question, he said, "I was first told (about this portfolio change) last night."
Responding to a question, the finance minister defended his performance and said "Who says that I have failed in achieving what I wanted to achieve?"