The rumours are circling around in the political and journalist circles of islamabad that PML-N secretary general and federal minister planning and special initiatevs Ahsan iqbal is not happy with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and mulling to resign. The minister is not happy with the interference in his ministry. He wants to implemnet his vision in the next five year plan 2024-2029 and vision 2035. He is not getting the free hand as he was used to enjoy under former PM Nawaz Sharif.
it is reported in the media that PM shahbaz sharif is conducting regular meetings with planning commssion officials and issue direct instructions to them. Shahbaz sharif is also wants to transfer the CPEC projects to the economic affairs ministry run by his blueeyed former bureaucrat Ahad Cheema.
Ahsan iqbal was the minister planning when CPEC was launched. He was overseeing the cPEC projects in the Nawaz Sharif government from 2015 to 2017. Ahsan Iqbal is not enjoying the freedom he used to enjoy under Nawaz Sharif.
The problem is that Shabaz Sharif relied too much on the bureaucrats and in fact run the government through bureaucrats. he still likes to work with bureaucrats who served with him in punjab.
The senior PML-N leader has also developed differences with the deputy chairman Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan. Ahsan Iqbal wants to run his ministry without any interference. The minister is not pleased the way deputy chairman is asserting in the planning commssion. Jahanzeb Khan is a bureacrat and wants to run the Planning commission in a bureaucratic manner.
The sources close to Ahsan iqbal are denying the news of his resignation immediatedly. But they are indicating that if the issues were not resolved amicably then he might quit the planning ministry and accept another ministry. The sources are denied the rumours about his departure from PML-N.
Ahsan Iqbal might not resign immediatedly but he is not comfortable with current situation. So he might opt to resign from his ministry but not ready to leave the PML-N. There is no doubt that he has developed differences with PM Shahbaz Sharif. PML-N president Nawaz Sharif might be forced to intervene in resolve this issue. If intervention is made to resolve the issues between PM Shahbaz Sharif and Ahsan Iqbal then the situation might goes out of control. His resign as a minister cannot be ruled out. This is not a healthy situation for PML-N. The role of the Nawaz Sharif will be crucial in this matter.
