ISLAMABAD, June 5: Foreign Minister Abdus Sattar, who underwent a three-hour long complicated surgery requiring endoscopy as well at Shiekh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, in the last week of May, has requested the president to relieve him of his cabinet duties at the latter’s earliest convenience.

The surgery, though having cured Sattar’s chronic nasal complication following successful removal of the nasal polyps, is said to have left the foreign minister too weak due to the three-hour long anaesthesia and the strong medication he is being administered for recovery and recuperation.

This is said to have made it very difficult for Sattar to do justice to his onerous tasks as the foreign minister at this critical juncture in the country’s history and, therefore, sources added, he has asked to be relieved.

Appreciating Sattar’s difficulties, the president is said to have been deeply disturbed at the prospect of losing a highly capable member of his team at this very crucial time.

However, the president is said to have taken no decision one way or the other, so far.

Meanwhile, sources said, the president has started looking at a short list of names to choose the right person from, in case he is left with no option but to finally accept Sattar’s request.