‘Will continue to support Imran Khan’: Asad Umar addresses press conference after stepping down

Former finance minister Asad Umar said on Thursday that although he was offered the energy minister portfolio from Prime Minister Imran Khan, he had refused as it was not a great idea to him.

Addressing the media, Umar said his stepping down as finance minister does not mean he is not available to forward Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s vision for 'Naya Pakistan'. "I am and will always be available to forward the interests of this country," he said. Umar maintained that he had met the prime minister and convinced him that he did not want to take any other portfolio.

Speaking about the condition of Pakistan's economy, he said that the time when he assumed the office last year, the economy was at its worst. He further said that even the new finance minister will also have to go through tough times because of the economy's condition.

He continued that he hopes that the next finance minister will be supported in his difficult decisions for the sake of the country. When asked if there was a conspiracy behind to remove him, Umar replied that he knew nothing of the politics behind the decision to change his cabinet. He further said that he wasn’t interested in them either. "I’m not interested in power politics," Umar added.