Dr Zafar Mirza resigns as SAPM on Health

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza has resigned from his post on Wednesday, ARY News reported.

Zafar Mirza took to the social-networking website Twitter and made the announcement of his resignation.

“I have resigned as SAPM. I came to Pakistan on a personal invitation of PM Imran Khan after leaving the World Health Organization (WHO). It was a privilege to serve Pakistan,” he said.

“I worked hard and honestly. I am satisfied that I leave at a time when Covid -19 has declined in Pakistan as a result of a grand national effort.”

Read: Coronavirus response: SC asks govt to remove Dr Zafar Mirza as SAPM on Health

He added that he had made the decision over the “negative discussion about the role of SAPMs and criticism of the government”.

<352> I have resigned as SAPM. I came to 🇵🇰 on a personal invitation of @ImranKhanPTI leaving WHO. I worked hard & honestly. It was a privilege to serve Pakistan. I am satisfied that I leave at a time when COVID-19 has declined in 🇵🇰 as a result of a grand national effort.

— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) July 29, 2020

Zafar Mirza was assigned the portfolio of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in April 2019.

It is pertinent to mention here that the apex court, while hearing a suo motu case on April 13 related to the situation arising out of the coronavirus crisis, had expressed displeasure over the performance of Dr Zafar Mirza in dealing with coronavirus pandemic and ordered the government to remove him.

Later, Prime Minister Imran Khan had chided his special assistant on health, Dr Zafar Mirza, over exhibiting unserious behaviour before the Supreme Court (SC).

Read More: Asset, dual nationality details of advisers, special assistants to PM revealed

Back in June, the NAB’s Executive Board Meeting (EBM) also approved to look into corruption complaints against Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

Earlier in the day, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Digital Pakistan Tania Airdus had also resigned from her post.

In a tweet today, Aidrus said she had tendered her resignation to Prime Minister over the controversy surrounding her dual nationality.