Prime Minister Imran Khan had earlier approved a summary for naming the former Brigadier as a member of his federal cabinet. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry, confirmed that the appointment was approved by the President Doctor Arif Alvi over the recommendation of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Information Minister said that Ijaz Shah will perform his duties as Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. The new federal minister has a strong background in military service. Ijaz Shah is a former Pakistan Army officer who had been retired as Brigadier and performed his duties as Sector Commander of Military Intelligence in Punjab. Shah was an aide of former president Pervez Musharraf and served as director general of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) from 2004 to 2008. Ijaz Shah contested election for NA-118 (Nankana Sahib-II) and defeated rival Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz candidate in a close contest by securing 63,818 votes followed by PML-N’s Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal with 61,413 votes.