Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday rolled back Syed Tariq Fatemi’s “Foreign Affairs” portfolio, a day after his appointment as special assistant to the prime minister on foreign affairs.

Fatemi will continue serving as an SAPM as well while he has been granted the additional responsibility of minister of state, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division.

“The prime minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of the Rules of Business, 1973 read with serial no. 1A of Schedule V-A of the said rules, has been pleased to withdraw the portfolio of “Foreign Affaris” from Syed Tariq Fatemi, special assistant to the prime minister, and grant the status of Minister of State,” read the notification.

PM Shehbaz had appointed Fatemi as his special assistant on foreign affairs on Wednesday.

With the prime minister assuming the office on April 11, Fatemi was seen in several meetings chaired by PM Shehbaz during the last ten days, reported Business Recorder.

He had served in Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government’s previous tenure as the special assistant to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on foreign affairs. However, he was removed from the post in 2017 over his alleged role in Dawn Leaks.

Seventy-seven-year-old Fatemi has served at least 35 years in foreign service with a number of high-profile appointments. He was born in Dhaka and holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in Arts.