ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday accepted the resignations of Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus.

Earlier, Dr Zafar Mirza and Tania Aidrus had resigned from their posts. Zafar Mirza took to social-networking website Twitter and made the announcement, stating that he has resigned as special assistant due to ongoing negative discussion about the role of SAPMs and criticism on the government.

He said, “I came to Pakistan on a personal invitation of PM Imran Khan after leaving World Health Organization (WHO). 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 further stated Pakistani people deserve a better health care and that he has worked honestly and sincerely to contribute to this cause. It was a privilege to serve this country, he said.

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 InShaAllah emerge out of COVID-19 with a stronger health care system.

Earlier Wednesday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus had also resigned from the post over dual nationality.

In her resignation letter to PM Imran Khan, Tania said that she returned to Pakistan with the singular intent to contribute and develop the vision of a Digital Pakistan, a concept which PM has always voiced and she shared.

She said that recent discourse in the public sphere about her Canadian citizenship, which is a consequence of her birth and not an acquisition of choice, is a distraction to her ability to execute on the long term vision for a Digital Pakistan. NNI