Constructive Criticism.

The circumstances behind Asad Umar's removal from the position of Finance Minister have been one of the mysteries of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)'s cabinet reshuffles. The former Finance Minister was removed a few weeks before the budget presentation and in the middle of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Since then, Asad Umar has remained silent about both the topics- until Thursday, in a thirty-minute speech in the floor of the parliament.

To say that Mr Umar's Speech was informative would be an understatement. Umar's speech indicates that his relationship with the government has not wavered. Yet that did not deter Asad Umar from making some astute observations about PTI's recent economic reforms, showing that he is not afraid to make constructive criticism of his own party, and even take some swipes which hint at a deeper inner party rivalry.

While congratulating the government for the formidable task of presenting a budget in a crises economy, Umar lamented that not enough measures were being taken to...