SAPM NHS Zafar Mirza and Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus Resign

[insight-out]

As a well wisher of the PTI government, I agree with those who believe that the reason for the departure of these two individuals is something other than what they're claiming.

I do not doubt their sincerity in trying to help their country. But here is what I believe happened:

I think Tania Aidrus was out of her depth. She came from a very different work culture, and had a very different work style. As we all know, bringing meaningful change in Pakistan is extremely different, in any area. She must have faced innumerable, seemingly insurmountable hurdles in implementing her plans. Not accustomed to the rough and tumble ways of Pakistani politics and bureaucracy, she must have repeatedly run into brick walls.

In the recent controversy surrounding dual citizenship, she found an excuse to exit gracefully, having concluded that she would not be able to bring the mandated changes. IK agreed. I believe hiring her was a mistake in the first place, and with her resignation, that mistake has been corrected. Let's hope she is replaced by someone more street smart.

As for Dr. Zafar Mirza, I think his resignation is definitely a loss. But again, I do not think he was the man for the job. He comes from the WHO, and his area is public health. This may seem like a great fit, but actually he is more suited for a bureaucratic position, not a ministerial position (which is what he effectively was).

Pakistan needs a health minister who has a more forceful personality, someone more aggressive in building the health service in the country, almost from the ground up. Dr Mirza would be great at running specific health program, or serve as an expert consultant. But to be a minister, you need to have a broader vision, and a more entrepreneurial, aggressive approach. I believe IK accepted his resignation because he realized that Dr. Mirza is not that person. Let's hope his replacement will embody the vision and drive needed to bring the massive change that the health sector requires.

 

[insight-out]

To begin with, in both cases; there has been misconduct on their part in view of their ministries. The informed version insists that IK didn't compromise on the same. Of-course there is more to meet an eye and both are merely trying to divert. Zafar Mirza was named in few scams especially medical masks & some covid related medicine price hike.

If you are in Pakistani politics, and working with the kind of bureaucracy that Pakistan has, you run into all sorts of people, and step on the toes of some of them. In such an environment, it is easy to be "named in a few scams". I wouldn't put too much stock in these claims.

These people (Dr. Mirza and Ms. Aidrus) came from different backgrounds. They were professionals, who had achieved success in their respective fields before becoming SAPMs. They do not fit the profile of people who try to make a few buck here and there through some risky underhanded deals.

 

[Hiraa]

Tania Aidrus was sacked, did not resign
SAPM made to sign resignation letter by Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Azam Khan

ISLAMABAD: Tania Aidrus, special assistant to the prime minister on e-governance and head of the much-touted Digital Pakistan Vision initiative, has announced to resign from her post citing recent criticism levelled against her and the government due to her dual nationality.

Sharing the signed resignation letter on her Twitter page, she wrote, “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.”

Tania left her job of 12 years at Google where she served in various leadership roles, her last one being “Director, Product, Payments for Next Billion Users”, to join PM Imran Khan’s Digital Pakistan initiative in February, and was appointed SAPM for the same purpose.


Profit has learnt that this resignation was on the cards for close to two months, which is when Jehangir Tareen was practically ousted from the party due to the sugar crisis probe and was the one who arranged the first meeting between Aidrus and the PM last year that materialized into the latter’s vision for ‘Digital Pakistan’. Sources told Profit that Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Azam Khan invited the former SAPM to his office this morning, where Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar was also present. There she was asked to sign the resignation letter.

When she protested and asked to speak to the prime minister, she was told that this resignation was not optional, that she had to sign it and the PM would not be able to speak to her. Therefore, while the letter points to criticism on Aidrus; foreign nationality being the chief reason for her resignation, the actual motives behind her removal are much different.

As confirmed by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry in an interview, infighting within the PTI between Jehangir Tareen, Asad Umar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi restricted the party from performing well. Mr. Tareen’s attempt to limit the role of the bureaucracy in federal government business was reportedly fiercely opposed by Azam Khan. The sugar crisis probe provided an opportunity for an ‘anti-Jehangir Tareen camp’ to push him out of the party.

Rumours of difficulties between Tania and CEO of National Information Technology Board (NITB) Shabahat Ali Shah are also not unheard of. Sources privy to the progress of Digital Pakistan revealed that there was an expectation from Tania that she would arrange funding from international donors such as World Bank for Digital Pakistan but no such deals were ever finalized. These reasons also contributed to her being removed.

Last month, Profit published a report in which the role and status of a non-profit organization by the name of “Digital Pakistan Foundation” (DPF) was questioned as it had on its board Tania Aidrus, Jehangir Khan Tareen and Careem CEO Mudassar Sheikha. That the company was registered as a separate entity under with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) exactly one week prior to her appointment as the SAPM, raised concerns of a conflict of interest as the DPF was created to compliment the Digital Pakistan Initiative (DPI) that would come directly under the Prime Minister’s Office, headed by Tania Aidrus. According to a report by ARY, Tania was unable to satisfy the PM on the role and circumstances under which the DPF was created and was therefore removed from here SAPM role.

Profit’s made repeated attempts to contact Tania Aidrus and Mirza Shahzad Akbar for comment but failed to get any response.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/07/29/tania-aidrus-was-sacked-did-not-resign/

@The Eagle another angle

 

[Moonlight]

Fighting with godfathers of Pakistan is grueling. PM saab needs to fight with the internal politics in his party in order to achieve his long term goal of Naya Pakistan.
And resignation of ms. Aidrus and Mr. Mirza is loss of Pakistan, to be fair.
Despite the fact, Mr. Khan has uttered his thoughts regarding the dual nationalities but we rather need to amend the laws. Overseas Pakistanis are genuinely considered for the betterment of Pakistan and ready to serve in their maximum capacity.

 

[Hiraa]

 

[AbuzarIlyas]

Unfortunately! We always have a lot of ministers who consider their foreign nationalities and vested interests more sacred as compared to national interest!

 

[Cookie Monster]

She already was working as a professional. She left GOOGLE for Pakistan. Leaving google is not a joke. Imagine the credentials and expereince she must have. It could have worked wonders for us.

These same morons who get riled up about these ppl being foreign...don't hesitate to buy foreign goods for their luxury...
...I don't understand what the issue is if these ppl(Tania Airdus and Zafar Mirza) were working earnestly for a better Pakistan.

 

[LeGenD]

Tania Aidrus was sacked, did not resign
SAPM made to sign resignation letter by Prime Minister's Principal Secretary Azam Khan

ISLAMABAD: Tania Aidrus, special assistant to the prime minister on e-governance and head of the much-touted Digital Pakistan Vision initiative, has announced to resign from her post citing recent criticism levelled against her and the government due to her dual nationality.

Sharing the signed resignation letter on her Twitter page, she wrote, “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.”

Tania left her job of 12 years at Google where she served in various leadership roles, her last one being “Director, Product, Payments for Next Billion Users”, to join PM Imran Khan’s Digital Pakistan initiative in February, and was appointed SAPM for the same purpose.


Profit has learnt that this resignation was on the cards for close to two months, which is when Jehangir Tareen was practically ousted from the party due to the sugar crisis probe and was the one who arranged the first meeting between Aidrus and the PM last year that materialized into the latter’s vision for ‘Digital Pakistan’. Sources told Profit that Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Azam Khan invited the former SAPM to his office this morning, where Advisor to the Prime Minister on Accountability Barrister Mirza Shahzad Akbar was also present. There she was asked to sign the resignation letter.

When she protested and asked to speak to the prime minister, she was told that this resignation was not optional, that she had to sign it and the PM would not be able to speak to her. Therefore, while the letter points to criticism on Aidrus; foreign nationality being the chief reason for her resignation, the actual motives behind her removal are much different.

As confirmed by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry in an interview, infighting within the PTI between Jehangir Tareen, Asad Umar and Shah Mehmood Qureshi restricted the party from performing well. Mr. Tareen’s attempt to limit the role of the bureaucracy in federal government business was reportedly fiercely opposed by Azam Khan. The sugar crisis probe provided an opportunity for an ‘anti-Jehangir Tareen camp’ to push him out of the party.

Rumours of difficulties between Tania and CEO of National Information Technology Board (NITB) Shabahat Ali Shah are also not unheard of. Sources privy to the progress of Digital Pakistan revealed that there was an expectation from Tania that she would arrange funding from international donors such as World Bank for Digital Pakistan but no such deals were ever finalized. These reasons also contributed to her being removed.

Last month, Profit published a report in which the role and status of a non-profit organization by the name of “Digital Pakistan Foundation” (DPF) was questioned as it had on its board Tania Aidrus, Jehangir Khan Tareen and Careem CEO Mudassar Sheikha. That the company was registered as a separate entity under with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) exactly one week prior to her appointment as the SAPM, raised concerns of a conflict of interest as the DPF was created to compliment the Digital Pakistan Initiative (DPI) that would come directly under the Prime Minister’s Office, headed by Tania Aidrus. According to a report by ARY, Tania was unable to satisfy the PM on the role and circumstances under which the DPF was created and was therefore removed from here SAPM role.

Profit’s made repeated attempts to contact Tania Aidrus and Mirza Shahzad Akbar for comment but failed to get any response.

https://profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/07/29/tania-aidrus-was-sacked-did-not-resign/

@The Eagle another angle

What a sad state of affairs.

How can PTI-led GOP deliver on its promises with that kind of internal dysfunction?

 

[SQ8]

Somewhere in the river of sewerage near north nazimbad.. a mad dervesh was seen in a flooded mosque praying....

Ya Allah Pakistan pe Hindustan kal hamla kar de ke iss badbakht aqwam ka kuch tu faida hojaye aalim e Islam aur insaniyat ke liye..

iss se pehle ke Pakistan hi na ho hamla karne ke liye aur phir saare Ghazwa e Hind ke deewanay gande wuzu gah wali masajid mein sadme se itekaf mein mar jaien ge yeh qaseedah parhte parthe..:

“Haye kash ye Internet aur gharailo jaali ghazway aik doosray pe ya kamzor pe karne ke bajaye apni nafs, seerat aur nazariye pe karte tu aaj meri rooh corona ke khansi aur ghalazat ki galawat le kar Na tarap rihi hoti”

 

[litman]

Pakistan sey itni hi mohabbat hai Toa chor dein canadian/american nationality.

I don't know what happened (as I don't read much about our politics now), but I am personally against dual nationals having any higher level jobs.

"pak say muhabbat" doesnt mean that a person shoots himself/ herself in the feet. no body works for free and all of us take into consideration the future of ourselves and our families. we know how things work in pak. there is no consistency in policies. dropping foreign nationality means closing a door on your own progress. the other door will be closed upon you when the government changes and the new ruler kicks you out of the office and then you are nothing but a loser with no where to go. almost all of us like to have a decent career abroad. those who fail or they simply have no option talk about "pakistan say muhabbat". i know some people who really showed this "pak say myhabbat" into their actions and stayed in pakistan despite having an oppurtunity to go abroad but ultimately one day either they also packed their bags or simply got killed.
now let me tell you what is the actual meaning of this "pak say muhabbat"? it means i will make a contract with the state that i will my job with full honesty and hardwork and inreturn the state will provide me safety, salary according to my qualification and respect. the problem is that majority of us dont do our jobs whole heartedly and expect from the state to fulfill its part of the contract. some however do their jobs well but as the whole system is collapsed the state fails to fulfill its part of the contract and that person quits the system.

 

[American Pakistani]

Lol at those who are saying that these 2 gave more importance to their foreign nationality. Do they bother to read what they write? How ridiculous do they sound.

Patriotism doesn't mean that you leave your loved ones.

 

[PakPrinciples]

Not all but many people in Pakistan bash overseas Pakistanis without realizing that whatever 220 million export and earn is less than what is sent by overseas.

I don't see anyone bashing overseas Pakistani's instead object to dual nationals holding seats in government which I completely agree with.

When people talk about all the money that overseas Pakistani's send back we're primarily talking about Pakistani's working in the GCC (i.e. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, etc...) where they can't get citizenship (i.e not dual nationals):

Pakistani's in Canada, the US and EU don't send as much by comparison but that could be due to other reasons like not having family in need back in Pakistan and not having as many Pakistani's in Canada, the US, UK and EU.

This is why Imran Khan, despite what he may or may not feel about the leadership of the GCC, was so adamant about there not being a war that erupts between them and Iran largely spearheaded by the US. The GCC at war means the loss of billions in foreign exchange from remittances that Pakistan heavily relies on.

I'm sending money back to Pakistan because I love and am loyal to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan not because of how people there feel about Pakistani's holding dual nationality.

I'm not looking for medals, plaques or pats on the back for it. If anything I applaud Pakistani's for treasuring our identity and wanting to keep the land of the pure the land of the pure.

If Pakistan focuses on, develops and protects its own home grown industries, instead of this stupid focus on tourism, it's reliance on remittances would be negligible.

Remittances themselves are important because of the abject failures of kafir slave governments headed by the PML-N, PPP and Musharraf who have crippled the economy due to their utterly stupid economic liberalization programs encouraged by groups like the IMF (an arm of US foreign policy) via lowered tariffs and these insane Free Trade Agreements with countries like China which literally make no sense at all to sign if you look at the data (ex. In 2006, when the FTA was signed, 60% of our exports were textiles yet China had a textile Industry that was larger than the entire GDP of Pakistan so there was literally nothing you could export to them other than raw materials).

Musharraf signing the FTA with China, like the PML-N and PPP calling for nationwide lock downs during the Covid19 crisis which have been an abject failure in India and would have done far more damage in Pakistan considering we had nowhere near the foreign exchange cushion India does, demonstrate how utterly repugnant and stupid past leadership has been but they'll blame anything and everything else but themselves.

Unfortunately Pakistanis, particularly those who are literate, don't read or research and their opinions on anything are based solely on a few news clippings or tweets and the stupid nonsense that comes out of the mouths of dumb politicians who likely get a lot of their information from the same sources or just make it up (ex. Bilwal Bhutto and the PPP exclaiming all the virtues of the inept and opportunistic Z.A Bhutto).

The last part of that was pretty much a rant so for those who stuck around to read the whole thing thanks for humoring me.

I was planning a post that would outline the actual reasons, at least as far as I can tell, that Pakistan's economy is the mess using facts and numbers not random one liners and tweets but after my morning workouts, meetings and other things I need to do for work I'm usually bushed so hard to do.

but I am personally against dual nationals having any higher level jobs.

In certain cases there might not be as qualified a candidate as someone holding dual nationality and a dual national is still a citizen of Pakistan.

If their loyalty to the two nation theory, Islamic ideology and the nations security is questionable then strip them of citizenship, which should also be the case for those only holding Pakistani nationality as well, otherwise respect them because they are our people.

They should allow non-Pakistani's and dual nationals to hold advisory posts where they don't have any actual power but can provide guidance to government officials, even spearhead projects, but the final decision stays with elected representatives who do not hold any other nationality.

Lol at those who are saying that these 2 gave more importance to their foreign nationality. Do they bother to read what they write? How ridiculous do they sound.

Well that would be true if they were asked to give up their foreign citizenship to continue to work for the government.

However, the actual reasons they left may have nothing to do with that which I commented on just below.

Such a premium loss to nation.That is why professionals always remain hesitant to be the part of Government.

Incompetent Usman Buzdar survives, Amir Liaquat resignation is rejected but the skilled and acomplished ones are let go. Excellent move

As a well wisher of the PTI government, I agree with those who believe that the reason for the departure of these two individuals is something other than what they're claiming.

no need to check their accounts. These two were harassed for having dual nationalities by lifafa journalists and opposition.

I didn't really follow this story but was talking to my dad who did and will need to look into this further.

He read through a couple of sources and from what he told me it was based on a few things one of which was a proposed a list of raw materials to import some of which were from India despite bans in place and them being cheaply available and developed locally. When Khan questioned Zafar Mirza on the import list he created, after being alerted to it by another member of government/advisor who asked why they were listed, Mirza denied he created the list. When Khan asked who created the list Mirza couldn't even identify where the list came from at which point Khan asked him to resign.

As for Tania Aidrus it was something related to her being a close confidant of Janhangir Tareen who heads the sugar mafia in Pakistan and Khan had a falling out with. Apparently she started an NGO where she listed herself as the head of it, with Jahangir Tareen a director, but never disclosed this to anyone and it became a conflict of interest issue and she was asked to resign after some questioning by Khan.

Here's an article I found regarding it:
https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/556747-Reason-resignation-Zafar-Mirza-Tania-Aidrus

Khan has the right to change who he appoints and if it is related to conflict of interest or poor performance I commend him for that. I honestly don't think he would have gotten rid of anyone because of dual nationality regardless of what the losers in the PML-N and PPP.

someone more aggressive in building the health service in the country

I actually object to this the same way I object to any funding for education as I said years back.

Pakistan is not in a position to be wasting money on healthcare and education right now what it really needs are industry and jobs. Pakistan has enough educated men and women to occupy positions that require those degrees but the bulk of the jobs that will be created initially like construction work or work in an assembly line don't even require you to be literate, you just learn one job and repeat it over and over again.

This attempt at funding education and healthcare strips limited resources away from where it will provide the greatest benefit. What the country has been doing is prolonging the economic problems and suffering of the people by focusing on education and healthcare over industry.

Yes, what I'm suggesting is going to rob a generation of a good education but their kids will be far better off because of it and their grand kids will be even better off as will the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

 

[Mav3rick]

She already was working as a professional. She left GOOGLE for Pakistan. Leaving google is not a joke. Imagine the credentials and expereince she must have. It could have worked wonders for us.

And how many Google executives left their Jobs to serve their country India? Why do we need people from Google or Microsoft etc., when we already have sufficient human resources and vision amongst our youth?

As for her, I am sure she can find another suitable enterprise position, based on her credentials.

 

[ghazi52]

IHC dismisses plea against dual national SAPMs

Justice Minallah also says law allowing PM to appoint special assistants not in violation of constitution

Saqib Bashir
July 30, 2020

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition against the appointment of individuals with dual citizenship as special assistants to the prime minister declaring it non-maintainable.

The petitioner, Justice Party Chairman Malik Munsif Awan, had pleaded that the appointment of four SAPMs, who were dual nationals, be declared null and void as somebody who owed their allegiance to another country should not be holding key government positions and making decisions about the country.

He had further contended that rule 4(6) of the Rules of 1973, which allows the appointment of special assistants to the PM with status and functions determined by the premier, was in violation of the constitution.

In his judgment, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah held that that there was no restriction of appointing persons with dual nationality as special assistants.

“The only restriction provided in the Constitution is under Article 63(1)(c) and it is confined to disqualification of a person from “being elected or chosen as, and from being, a member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament),” the verdict read.

“This disqualification is also attracted in case of the membership of the provincial assembly. There are some statutes, which prescribe renunciation of nationality of another state as an eligibility condition for employment. There is no such restriction for appointment of a special assistant under rule 4(6) of the Rules of 1973.”

The judge further noted that that the Pakistan Citizenship Act, 1951 expressly allowed a citizen of Pakistan to hold dual nationality as has been described in section 14(3).

“It is not fair to raise doubts or to be skeptical regarding appointment of a dual national as a special assistant by the prime minister. The importance and contributions made by dual nationals cannot be denied. The patriotism of Pakistani citizens holding dual nationality cannot be doubted,” the judgment read.
The IHC chief justice noted that the Supreme Court had acknowledged the contributions of overseas Pakistanis in numerous judgments.

He added that the patriotism of a person who was a citizen of Pakistan could be doubted nor suspected unless the State could demonstrably and without a shadow of doubt establish otherwise.

“A person who holds dual nationality is indeed a citizen of Pakistan and thus his or her commitment to Pakistan and patriotism cannot be doubted. A Pakistani citizen holding dual nationality is thus not ineligible or barred from being appointed by the prime minister as a special assistant under rule 4(6) of the Rules of 1973,”
Justice Athar Minallah further observed that interference by the court would adversely affect the transaction of business of the federal government and prevent the prime minister from discharging obligations under the constitution thus warranting restraint.

The IHC chief justice noted that Rules of 1973 were made and duly notified by the federal government in exercise of powers vested under Articles 90 and 99 of the constitution.

He added that Sub Article 3 of Article 99 empowered the federal government to make rules for the allocation and transaction of its business. “It is pursuant to the said powers that the federal government has made the Rules of 1973 and has described the ‘Organisation of Divisions’ in rule 4. Sub rule 6 of rule 4 enables the prime minister to appoint special assistant or special assistants and to determine their status and functions.”

The judge held that the Rules of 1973, particularly rule 4(6), are not in conflict with the provisions of the constitution.
“Special assistants are not members of the federal cabinet. Moreover, they are distinct from advisers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister under Article 93(1) of the Constitution,” the verdict read.

Justice Athar Minallah noted that the prime minister was the chief executive of one of the most important organs of the State and had to perform multiple/complex functions.
“A person elected as prime minister is answerable to the people of Pakistan and the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament). The onerous role of the prime minister described under the constitution cannot be performed by the latter alone. In order to enable the prime minister to transact business of the executive organ of the State, the latter ought to have the freedom to appoint officials or other persons for assistance,” the judge wrote in his judgment.

“Rule 4(6) is one of such modes whereby the prime minister has been empowered to appoint special assistants. There is no restriction regarding the number of special assistants that can be appointed by the prime minister.”
The judge declared that for these reasons the petition was devoid of merits and thus dismissed.

 

[-blitzkrieg-]

please get out of this citizenship issue and JT gang rubbish
both were sacked... this is not a resignation

there are much disturbing details.. which many may not digest.

they were promoting interests of someone else.
this company aka charity box is the way kickbacks and bribes are taken;
an open-end question..were both serving interests of their previous employees??