ISLAMABAD: Sheikh Rasheed after few hours of his statement regarding the information ministry withdrew his statement.

The Minister appears to have retracted his statement regarding Prime Minister Imran Khan’s offer to change his portfolio from railway to information.

“Fawad Chaudhry is my brother who will stay on as Information and Broadcasting Minister,” Rashid said, shortly after he claimed that he was offered the information ministry during his meetings with Prime Minister Khan.

“Those were casual remarks which were recorded by media. No matter what happens, he will not become part of any conspiracy to dislodge Fawad Chaudhry,” he said.

Rasheed went on to add that he had no desire to become the info minister, adding he was very happy being a railway minister and was committed to deliver.Cannot even think of becoming information minister, says Rasheed

Earlier, in a statement in Lahore, he said Prime Minister offered him information ministry. “I was not desirous of the ministry. But if the prime minister changes my portfolio, I will be grateful to him,” he replied to a question about Khan’s statement about shuffling the ministries.

He claimed that he held four meetings with Prime Minister who has offered me the information ministry. I told him that the information minister was in London on a picnic. We will discuss when he returns,” he said.

He said PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif was dying to get an NRO (deal) from the government.

Addressing a press conference at Railways Headquarters here, he said that he would not say whether Nawaz Sharif or Maryam Nawaz wanted an ”NRO”, but the opposition leader in the National Assembly was trying hard to get one.

To a question about prime minister’s midterm election statement, he said that Imran Khan stated that in reply to a question about the south Punjab province context. “It is a discretion of a prime minister to hold mid-term elections whenever he wants,” he added.

To another question, he said Pakistan Army was standing with the government as armed forces wanted a better solution to the issues.

“Pak-Army is one of the most organised institutions of the country and it is guardian of the constitutional and ideological frontiers of the country,” he added.

“Pakistan Army also wanted prosperity in the country like all other Pakistanis,” he added.

He said that Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) was a section of the Army, acting as a representative for the institution.

The minister said that judiciary also played a vital role in the state affairs, and decisions made under Chief Justice Saqib Nisar would have a positive impact on the county.

To a question about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati, he said that if any ruling party worker or leader would be found guilty, he should be awarded double punishment.

The minister said that Azam Swati had himself resigned from his office; therefore, he should be appreciated.

He rejected the perception that bureaucracy was not cooperating with the government.