Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has appointed seven more Special Assistants to the PM (SAPMs) on pro bono basis, as the federal cabinet swells to 85.
As per details, the PM has appointed five new SAPMs including Members of National Assembly Rao Ajmal, Shaista Parvez, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Muhammad Hamid Hameed, Malik Sohail Khan, Chaudhary Abid Raza and Muhammad Moeen Wattoo.
Criticising the PM’s decision, PTI leader Farrukh Habib remarked that the government was close to making a century of cabinet members.
The newly appointed SAPMs will enjoy the status of ministers of state, however they have not been assigned any portfolios yet.
Of the 85 cabinet members, 34 are federal ministers, seven are ministers of state, and there are four advisers to the PM and 40 SAPMs.
Besides the long list of federal cabinet members, 38 parliamentary secretaries in the National Assembly answer questions on behalf of the ministers in their absence.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehbaz Sharif with the status of Federal Minister, Senator Hafiz Abdul Karim said that it is better to leave the government.
“It is better to leave the government. We should not have taken the government,” said Karim.
“Kisi aur ka gandd hum kyun saaf karein? Jo gandd laaye hain, wohi saaf karein.” [Why should we clean up someone else’s mess? They should clean up the mess that they created.]
وزیراعظم کےمعاون خصوصی سینیٹرعبدالکریم پھٹ پڑے۔کہا۔بہتریہی ہےحکومت چھوڑ دیں،ہمیں حکومت لینی ہی نہیں چاہیےتھی،کسی اور کاگند ہم کیوں صاف کریں،جو گند کو لائےوہی اسے صاف بھی کریں،حکومت کرنی ہےتو ائی ایم ایف کی عوام پربوجھ ڈالنےوالی شرائط نہ مانیں،ریلیف نہیں توحکومت چھوڑ کر سیاست کریں pic.twitter.com/P0XQQ5ybou
— Naeem Ashraf Butt (@naeemashrafbut3) July 20, 2022
“If you want to govern, do not impose conditions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that burden the people. Believe me, if there is no relief, leave the government and do politics,” said SAPM Karim while speaking with journalist Naeem Ashraf.
On the other hand, despite the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) disastrous performance in Punjab, the federal government has decided to complete its constitutional tenure till August 2023.
Senior journalist and columnist Fahd Husain has been appointed as Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Shehbaz Sharif.
The Cabinet Division issued the notification following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s approval on Friday.
Image of notification
“The Prime Minister, in terms of rule 4(6) of Rules of Business, 1973, has been pleased to appoint Syed Fahd Husain as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister with the status of Federal Minister, with immediate effect,” read a notification of his appointment.
Fahd Hussain will have the portfolio in Public Policy and Strategic Communication.
Husain has previously served as the Resident Editor of Dawn newspaper in Islamabad.
He has spent three decades in the field of journalism. Husain has been a newspaper reporter, editor, columnist, television anchor, and news director during his time as a journalist.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill lost his cool when the credibility of his educational background was put into question during HUM News programme, ‘Breaking Point with Malick’.
Anchorperson Mohammad Malick and Gill traded barbs while making personal attacks on each other.
Malick and Gill’s argument revolved around the increasing inflation in Pakistan.
Shahbaz Gill hit back at Malick saying that he is a journalist, not an economist. To which Malick questioned whether Shahbaz Gill is an economist or not.
— Breaking Barriers With Malick (@ViewsWithMalick) January 20, 2022
In response, Shahbaz Gill said he has done a PhD in Business from the University of Malaya. However, Malick took a dig at the university’s credibility claiming that it has a controversial status since there were talks that it is not a verified university.
The personal attack did not sit well with Shahbaz Gill who said that Malick should leave journalism. Shahbaz Gill defended the university by saying that Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad studied there.
“That university is like Quaid-e-Azam University,” Dr. Shahbaz Gill said, highlighting its national importance in Malaysia. “You are giving a nonsense statement!”
— Breaking Barriers With Malick (@ViewsWithMalick) January 20, 2022
“If you’re talking about nonsense statements, then I think you are acting as a nonsense person,” Malick hit back. “You are being rude, look at your language, try saying ‘nonsense’ to your seniors in the party,” said Malick.
Malick later said, “I hope the prime minister will teach his special assistants how to talk. We are hosts and on television, we cannot speak certain things due to professional obligations. This is not a Jalsa but a political talk show. I hope the ministers and special assistants of the government should have the patience and decency to answer questions in a decent manner.”
— Breaking Barriers With Malick (@ViewsWithMalick) January 20, 2022
We can give a lot of answers but we will not respond to insults,” said Malick.
Gill took to Twitter and said, “If someone insults my school by calling it suspicious, then a harsh answer will be given back.”
درسگاہ آپکی ماں ہوتی ہے۔ وہاں سے آپ کی تعلیم تربیت ہوتی ہے۔مجھے اپنے پرائمری سکول اور ماسٹر صدیق صاحب پر, PhD ، university Malaya پر اور Postdoctorate کے لئے University illinois urbana Champaign پر بھی فخر ہے۔ کوئی میری درسگاہ کو مشکوک کہہ کے توہین کرے گا تو سخت ترین جواب ملے گا
Later, Mohammad Malick tweeted that he misheard the university’s name.
“Confusion arose when I misheard uni name and mistook it for another but that was a minor issue, the ugliness happened because of extreme aggressiveness of the gentleman and rowdy language,” said Malick.
Wasim, confusion arose when I misheard uni name and mistook it for another but that was a minor issue, the ugliness happened because of extreme aggressiveness of the gentleman and rowdy language. Like I said, every conflicting opinion can be made without a conflict.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Power and Petroleum Tabish Gauhar has reportedly stepped down from his position after almost one year of his appointment.
According to sources, Prime Minister Imran Khan asked for the former’s resignation as he [Imran Khan] and the Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar weren’t evidently happy with his performance, reports Samaa News.
“After a year of public service, I’ve decided to call it a day to return to my family. It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to serve the country, to the best of my abilities, in an honorary capacity. I shall remain indebted to the PM for giving me this opportunity,” Gauhar tweeted.
While publicly accepting the numerous challenges in the energy sector, he added: “No doubt that under the able leadership of Azhar, the MOE [Ministry of Energy] team will continue to stay the course on structural reforms.”
Whilst the challenges in the energy sector are manifold, I have no doubt that under the able leadership of Hammad Azhar, the MOE team will continue to stay the course on structural reforms. May Allah continue to bless Pakistan – Ameen. (2/2)
According to Geo News, the development comes after Gauhar and Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Zaidi developed rifts on the controversy sparked over the Engro LNG terminal’s dry-docking. Other disagreements included the Pakistan Stream Gas Pipeline (PSGP) project and Gauhar’s stance in favour of laying down the North-South Pipeline with the help of local gas companies.
Last month, he had written a letter to Hammad Azhar, pointing out multiple challenges in the energy sector.
Gauhar had resigned from his post earlier this year but at the time his resignation had not been accepted. Later, Gauhar had lodged a complaint with the premier, pleading that two cabinet members were interfering in the affairs of the Ministry of Energy.
After this news, a total of 11 Special ministers have resigned so far.
Zulfi Bukhari as SAPM on Overseas Pakistanis
Dr Ishrat Hussain as SAPM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity
Tabish Gauhar as SAPM on Power and Petroleum
Lt Gen Asim Bajwa as SAPM onChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) affairs
Firdaus Ashiq Awan as Special Assistant to Punjab Chief Minister on Information
Dr Zafar Mirza as SAPM on Health
Tania Aidrus as SAPM on Digital Pakistan
Shahzad Qasim as SAPM on Coordination of Marketing and Development of Mineral Resources
Dr Waqar Masood Khan as SAPM on Finance and Revenue
Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on August 11, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.
‘Usman Buzdar Ki Tabdeeli’
It has been reported by Daily Jang that senior journalist and analyst Suhail Warraich has said, “Imran Khan k paas Usman Buzdar ko tabdeel krnay k ilawa koi option nahi.”
His remarks come at a time when rumours regarding the removal of Punjab chief minister (CM) have gone rife yet again.
‘Wazire Azam K Ladlay Totay‘
In his column, Suhail Warraich has said, “Special assistant to prime minister mein aksar tadaad inn ladlay toton ki hai jo Tehreek-e-Insaf ki siyasi jad-o-jehad mein shaamil naa thay aur naa he unhon ney koi qurbaani di… iss ka bawajood qaabina ka hisa ban bethay… parlimaan k log faisla saazi mein shareek nahi hain magar yeh ghair muntakhib eham tareen mulki faislon mein shareek hotay hain jo k sarasar ghalat riwayat hai.”
‘National Assembly Mein Classroom Wali Harkatein’
According to Daily Jang, PML-N leader and former National Assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has said all lawmakers must play their role in improving the environment of the assembly. “My grandchildren told me, ‘Aap log jo kuch assembly mein kartay ho, hum school k classroom mein kr sakty hain’.”
Following are some snippets that stood out from Urdu newspapers on July 30, 2020, which The Current takes no responsibility for.
‘Sciencedaan Fawad Chaudhry’
It was reported by Daily Jang that Ruete Hilal [Moon-Sighting] Committee Chairman Mufti Muneebur Rehman has said, “Fawad Chaudhry ko calendar banaa kr denay walay humaray members hain. Hum 25 saal se Ruet chalaa rahay hain, Fawad Chaudhary kahaan se sciencedaan aa gaye?”
The statement comes days after yet another war of words erupted between the cleric and the science and technology minister over moon-sighting, this time for the Islamic month of Zil Hajj.
‘Tania Aidrusaur Zafar Mirza’
According to Daily Jang, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has said, “Wazire Azam shayad Zafar Mirza k kaam say mutmayin nahi thay. Dono isteefo’n ka dual nationality se koi taaluq nahi tha.”
A day earlier, special assistant to the prime minister on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, and on digital Pakistan, Tania Aidrus, had announced having submitted their resignations, saying it was over criticism following the assets and dual nationality report of PM’s aides. Pundits had, however, hinted at possible trouble in Islamabad and said that there was more to the resignations.
‘Imran Khan k aglay 6 maahki ahmeeyat’
Senior journalist and analyst Hamid Mir, in his column for Daily Jang, has said,“Imran Khan ne 2 saal tou jaisay taisay mukamal kr liye lekin Eid k bad inka asal imtehaan shuru honay wala hai. Agly 6 maah in k liye aham hain aur buhat mushkil bhi… yeh 6 maah nikal gaye to Imran Khan k liye paanch saal mukammal krna asaan hojayega.”
— While Tania Aidrus has resigned amid criticism for holding dual nationality, Dr Zafar Mirza has stepped down over ‘negative discussion about the role of SAPMs’
Dr Zafar Mirza and Tania Aidrus, special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM) on health and e-governance, respectively, stepped down from their posts on Wednesday.
The resignations come days after the Cabinet Division made public the details of the assets and dual nationalities of 20 advisers and special assistants, rocking the country’s political landscape.
In a tweet, Aidrus, the head of the much-touted Digital Pakistan Vision initiative, cited recent criticism levelled against her and the government due to her dual nationality as the reason behind her decision to resign.
“[The] criticism levied towards the state as a consequence of my citizenship status is clouding the purpose of Digital Pakistan,” she said, adding that she was resigning “in the greater public interest”.
Criticism levied towards the state as a consequence of my citizenship status is clouding the purpose of Digital Pakistan. In the greater public interest, I have submitted my resignation from the SAPM role. I will continue to serve my country and the PM’s vision to my best ability pic.twitter.com/BWBvBvO6uz
In the resignation letter, Aidrus stated that she had returned to Pakistan with the “singular intent to contribute and develop the vision of a Digital Pakistan”.
“I always was and shall be a Pakistani,” she wrote, adding that “it is unfortunate that a Pakistani’s desire to serve Pakistan is clouded by such [dual nationality] issues”.
While the letter points to criticism on Aidrus’ foreign nationality being the chief reason for her resignation, reports say that the former Google executive was in fact forced to resign.
Meanwhile, Mirza also took to Twitter to announce stepping down.
He said that he had come to Pakistan on the personal invitation of the premier after leaving the World Health Organization (WHO).
Due to ongoing negative discussion about the role of SAPMs & criticism on the gov, I choose to resign. Pakistani people deserve a better health care. I have worked sincerely to contribute to this cause. will Inshallah emerge out of COVID-19 with a stronger hlth care system.
“I worked hard and honestly. It was a privilege to serve Pakistan. I am satisfied that I leave at a time when COVID-19 has declined in Pakistan as a result of a grand national effort,” Mirza said.
He added that he had made the decision over the “negative discussion about the role of SAPMs and criticism of the government”.
“Pakistani people deserve better healthcare. I have worked sincerely to contribute to this cause. Pakistan will Inshallah emerge out of COVID-19 with a stronger healthcare system.”
While PM Imran has not yet accepted the resignations, rumour has it that another aide of his will shortly be resigning.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus has resigned from her post amid growing criticism for holding dual citizenship.
“Growing criticism is a distraction to my ability to execute on the long-term vision for a Digital Pakistan. It is unfortunate that a Pakistani’s desire to serve Pakistan is clouded by such issues,” said Tania, who holds Canadian and Singaporean nationality, in her resignation letter.
Criticism levied towards the state as a consequence of my citizenship status is clouding the purpose of Digital Pakistan. In the greater public interest, I have submitted my resignation from the SAPM role. I will continue to serve my country and the PM’s vision to my best ability pic.twitter.com/BWBvBvO6uz
Furthermore, she stated that her Canadian nationality was a consequence of her birth and “not an acquisition of choice”.
TANIA&TAREEN:
According to media reports, appointments of Tania and Khurram Jamali, who formerly worked under Tania at Google, was facilitated by Jahangir Khan Tareen.
In April 2020 when the sugar scandal rose its ugly head and a subsequent probe into it led to the damning report that said Tareen prioritised his sugar mills over national interest, PM Imran Khan was disillusioned.
This led to a rift between the premier and Tareen, who, according to reports, are no longer on talking terms.
While Tareen has left the country for the time being and does not hold any direct or indirect power in the government, people cannot help drawing links between the rift and Tania’s resignation.
DIGITAL PAKISTAN INITIATIVE AND DIGITAL PAKISTAN FOUNDATIONCONFLICT:
Despite the existence of Digital Pakistan Initiative, Tania formed a nonprofit organisation called Digital Pakistan Foundation to attract foreign expatriates and talent to facilitate the digitisation process in Pakistan.
According to Tania, the government’s Digital Pakistan Initiative had no Federal Budget assigned to it, neither was it under the ambit of the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) or Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), leaving it stalled and dry.
However,reportssay, Shabahat Ali Shah, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the National IT Board (NITB), and Tania were not getting along well since day one.
Both Shah and Tania were working for the IT Ministry and there had been an overlap of their work, leading to turf wars.
Taking advantage of Tania’s vulnerability, Shah allegedly want her sacked as the SAPM. To that end, the Digital Pakistan Foundation scandal was reportedly intentionally hyped up and leaked to a journalist, whose thread about the scandal was later picked up by various media outlets.
Credit goes to @ImranKhanPTI as #PM of #Pakistan for taking action whenever any wrong doing is pointed out. Top govt sources say contrary to what @taidrus claims as reason for resignation, she was asked to quit following unsatisfactory replies about making a private company pic.twitter.com/KoZDYgnRKn
Good to know that this Canadian Special Assisstant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan was asked to quit she never resigned volunteerly I am told one more resignation coming soon https://t.co/ITk3wdaiAC
Meanwhile, Tania says she will continue serving in Pakistan through public and private initiatives and will always be available for the cause of ‘Naya Pakistan’.
