ISLAMABAD: The Imran Khan-led government has surpassed all previous governments in removing or sacking its own cabinet members.
With the removal of barrister Shahzad Akbar as an advisor to the prime minister, the number of ministers, advisers and special assistants to prime ministers (SAPMs) in the PTI government, who have resigned or been dismissed, reached the nearly two dozen mark. A record for any Govt.
The latest expulsion of barrister Shahzad Akbar, considered one of the most powerful men in Khan's cabinet, has shocked many. Prime Minister Imran Khan's three-and-a-half-year tenure has not only broken the record for appointing the highest number of federal cabinet members, but has also overtaken previous governments in sacking ministers, advisers and special assistants to the prime minister (SAPM). left it. properly.
From the most trusted and party stalwarts like Asad Umar and Amir Kiyani to newcomers like Hafeez Sheikh and Dr Waqar Masood, nearly two dozen cabinet members have been removed from their posts in the last three and a half years.
Those who have been removed from their posts include Asad Umar, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Dr. Waqar Masood Khan, Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, Brigadier (Retd) Ejaz Shah, Dr. Ishrat Hussain, Barrister Shahzad Akbar, Nadeem Afzal Chan, Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa, Tabish Gohar, Faisal Wawda, Amir Mahmood Kiyani, Nadeem Babar, Dr Zafar Mirza, Tania Eders, Yusuf Baig Mirza, Shahzad Syed Qasim, Shahzad Arbab, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and others
asad umri
In August 2018, after PTI came to power, Imran Khan's financial wizard Asad Umar was the first choice for the post of finance minister. However, within nine months, Asad Umar had to step down as finance minister on April 18, 2019. He was later appointed Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives.
Abdul Hafeez Sheikh
Abdul Hafeez Sheikh took over as finance minister following the resignation of Asad Umar but almost two years later, Prime Minister Imran Khan removed him from the key ministry in March 2021.
Dr. Waqar Masood Khan
Former Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan was appointed Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue but he resigned from his post on August 24, 2021.
Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari
Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed his close aide Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari as SAPM on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, but he resigned from his post on May 17, 2021.
Aamir Mehmood Kiyani
Amir Mahmood Kiyani was among those PTI veterans who preceded Prime Minister Imran Khan for his cabinet. However, he had to resign after facing allegations of corruption in the drug price hike scandal.
Tabish Gohar Energy Technocrat
Khan appointed him as SAPM on Power and Petroleum but he resigned on September 21, 2021.
atif mian
Atif Mian, a prominent economist, was nominated as a member of the Economic Advisory Council by Imran Khan's government, but withdrew after pressure from some quarters.
Dr. Ishrat Hussain
He was entrusted with an important task of bringing about institutional reforms within the government and Khan appointed him as his advisor. Dr. Ishrat resigned from his post on July 30, 2021.
Dr Firdous Aashiq Awana
After losing the general election in 2018, Khan appointed him as the SAPM on Information and Broadcasting in April 2019. However, he was later removed and sent to Punjab to take over as the advisor to CM Punjab.
Brigadier (Retd) Ejaz Shah
He was appointed interior minister in Khan's cabinet in April 2019 and was removed from office in December 2020.
Nadeem Babri
Nadeem Babar was appointed as SAPM on Petroleum, but Khan later removed him from his post in March 2021.
Nadeem Afzal Chan
After losing the general election in 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed him as his special assistant but he resigned from his post in January 2021.
Lt Gen (Retd) Asim Salim Bajwa
General (Retd) Asim Bajwa was appointed advisor to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting but later resigned from the post in October 2020.
In addition to the above ministers, advisers and SAPM, there are several members of Khan's cabinet who were either dropped or resigned themselves, including Shahzad Arbab of SAPM on Establishment, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of MQM, Minister of Information Technology, Yusuf Baig on Media Affairs. Mirza S.A.P.M. Shahzad Syed Qasim SAPM on Power Division, Tania Aders SAPM on Digital Pakistan, Dr Zafar Mirza SAPM on Health and Tahir e Khan SAPM on Media Affairs.