Home Latest News Tania Aidrus Resigns as Special Assistant to the P.M.

Tania Aidrus Resigns as Special Assistant to the P.M.

by Staff Report

Tania Aidrus. YouTube

Head of Digital Pakistan initiative says she is stepping down in ‘greater public interest’ due to criticism against her dual citizenship

Tania Aidrus, the special assistant to the P.M. on Digital Pakistan, on Wednesday announced she had submitted her resignation “in the greater public interest” after her status as a dual national resulted in criticism of the federal government.

“Criticism levied toward 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 P.M.’s vision to my best ability,” the former Google executive posted on Twitter with a copy of her resignation.

Addressed to Prime Minister Imran Khan, Aidrus’ resignation maintains that she “always was and shall be a Pakistani.” However, she added, recent public discourse was proving a distraction to her ability to execute her vision for a Digital Pakistan.

“I believe the recent discourse in the public sphere about my Canadian nationality, which is a consequence of my birth and not an acquisition of choice, is a distraction to my ability to execute on the long term vision for a Digital Pakistan,” she wrote. “It is unfortunate that a Pakistani’s desire to serve Pakistan is clouded by such issues,” she added.

Requesting the prime minister to accept her resignation, she said she would continue to “serve your vision and Pakistan through initiatives both in the private and public domain, where possible.”

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division confirmed that Prime Minister Imran Khan had accepted Aidrus’ resignation.

Aidrus, appointed to the post of special assistant in March, provoked controversy after the federal cabinet made public the assets and nationality status of all unelected advisers and special assistants to the prime minister. She is one of four special assistants with dual nationality. The other three are Zulfikar Bukhari, special assistant to the P.M. on Overseas Pakistanis; Shehzad Syed Qasim, special assistant to the P.M. on power; and Nadeem Babar, special assistant to the P.M. on petroleum.

The opposition, as well as several lawmakers, have questioned the authority of special assistants, claiming they are not answerable to the public.

Related Articles

Leave a Comment