Pakistan sacks central bank chief in effort to secure loan from IMF

Senior Pakistani officials say the government has removed the head of the country's central bank, a key member of a team currently in talks with the IMF over an $8 billion bailout package.

The officials said Saturday that Tariq Bajwa, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, resigned the previous evening. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media on the record. Bajwa has confirmed his resignation to Pakistani media.

The officials also said the government plans to remove Jahanzeb Khan, chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, a tax collection body.