I was hoping I'd be the one to break this day before, but I guess you snooze you loose. First with Tania Airdust who now happens to be Airdust. Had nothing to do with her nationality or the fact she was heading an organisation whilst she was SAPM. As everyone may recall Imran's I https://twitter.com/AnasMallick/status/1290226762035544065

had discussed who has Imran's ear these days. It used to be a smattering of folks. After he became PM, it was initially JKT, Asad Umar, Naeemul Haq & Azam Khan. Asad Umar horrid performance as Finance Minister made Imran lose faith in him. Naeem RIP passed while JKT was

disqualified followed by the sugar scandal. Azam managed to further drive a wedge between them. For Azam the main competition is Arbab Shehzad. A former PAS big-wig & part of a clan of political heavyweights. Shehzad occupies the Establishment portfolio. Most baboos will tell you

the holy trinity of the bureaucracy consists of Establishment, Cabinet & the PM's Office. Azam as Principal Secretary to the PM already controls key positions & has appointed a number of his pals like Dr Jehanzeb & Dr Suleman to important positions.Arbab Shehzad has been somewhat

thwarted him at certain points but nothing to serious, given how Azam has the powers of the office of PM at his disposal. Arbab Shehzad as many of you know is quite close to JKT. JKT would use Shehzad to play off Pervez Khattak & vice versa to retain his influence. I don't know

what hold Azam has on Imran but he managed to convince Imran that Arbab Shehzad doesn't do anything & he needs to go (ironic coming from a fellow bureaucrat). With JKT out, one would've imagined the task would've been much easier? Not at all. Shehzad comes with clout. His nephews

Arbab Sher Ali (MNA NA30 Peshawar) & Arbab Mohammad Ali (Former Nazim Town 3 Peshawar) along with other relatives are quite active in the PTI. Then ofcourse Shahzad had a number of well wishers & decent backing by fellow CSP higher ups. Hasn't been that long since he retired.

Having said that I have on absolutely good authority that Imran had indeed decided to dispose of Arbab Shehzad from the cabinet in December of 2019, but he was able to maneuver his way using what he had at his disposal. So Azam did the next best thing. Downgrade his position in

the cabinet from Advisor to SAPM & hope he resigns on his own which we all saw transpire. So what does this have to do with Tania? Well, Tania was brought to JKT & was made SAPM based on his recommendation (I won't insert my usual barbs & be less senile). The truth is she was way

out of her depth to begin with. First of all, the department she ran didn't exist. It had been authorised to carry out functions which other govt entities were incharge of. Azam impressed that upon the PM. He also called her a JKT plant which given Tania's political profile or

lack thereof was a tad bit unfair. She worked private sector & keeps company with a very certain class of people.Those not traditionally associated with politics & those most on this here platform would classify as being basically 'burger' (fairly or unfairly, you decide).In govt

you get all sorts. Also when in cabinet, whether there as a technocrat or not, you have to know the art of wheeling & dealing. Tania did not.That made it all the more easier to give her a resignation letter, make her sign it & send her on her way. Now we come to Dr. Zafar Mirza.

Imran had long been irritated by his demeanor & seemingly languid style. The SCs comments didn't help much either. Beyond that in the NCOC Mirza,given his portfolio, would have been expected to take on a more visible role but he didn't. Another issue had to do with allegations of

price-fixing medicines & allegedly making great profit of them. Finally, for whatever reason covid cases seem to have fallen drastically in Pakistan. Naturally Dr. Faisal Sultan, a friend of Imran's, the head of SKMCH who was running Pakistans covid response has been credited

with this turnaround. Dr. Sultan let it be known to Azam Khan-who he was updating regularly concerning Dr. Mirza-that he was interested in taking on the job were it to become available. As the papers stated. Neither wanted to resign. They were made to. And here we are. End*

Please excuse the typos & poor grammar.