Pak Information Minister being replaced by Deputy

Islamabad, Jun 19 (UNI) Months ahead of the parlimentary elections, Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz is likely to replace Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani by his deputy, Minister of State Tariq Azeem Khan.

While members of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML) remain silent on what necessitated the premier to make changes in his cabinet, it is learnt that Mr Durrani may be given the top slot of PML chief organiser and portfolio of youth and culture and tourism.

Meanwhile, the Dawn newspaper quoted sources as saying that a series of top-level meetings were held in Islamabad yesterday to finalise changes in the cabinet and the PML set-up to improve government-media relations and prepare the party for elections.

According to sources, the decision to replace Mr Durrani with Chaudhry Tariq Azeem taken on Sunday, was confirmed in meetings that PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain held with President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Aziz.

General Musharraf agreed with Chaudhry Shujaat suggestion that Mr Durrani should be given a responsible position in the party.

Sources maintained that Mr Durrani would be moved to the Ministry of Tourism and would also hold a senior party office, most likely of the chief organiser.

The three leaders took the decision of moving Mr Durrani to another ministry after considering a number of ''factors, both technical and political'', sources added.

There were many complaints from higher levels about the minister, particularly when there was a move to change the Secretary-General of the party.

The move was settled by President Musharraf who strongly favoured retention of current incumbent Mushahid Hussain Sayed.

UNI