ISLAMABAD, June 18: Information Minister Mohammad Ali Durrani is being replaced by his deputy, Minister of State Tariq Azeem Khan, official sources confirmed here on Monday.

A final announcement was likely anytime this week, the sources told Dawn.

The sources said that a series of top-level meetings were held in the federal capital on Monday to finalise changes in the cabinet and the PML set-up to improve government-media relations and prepare the party for the elections.

The sources said that the decision to replace Mr Durrani with Tariq Azeem, taken on Sunday, was confirmed in meetings PML president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain held with the president and the prime minister.

The president agreed with Chaudhry Shujaat’s suggestion that Mr Durrani should be given a responsible position in the party.

The sources said 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 office of chief organiser which existed in the party in the past and was last held by Religious Affairs Minister Ijazul Haq.

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

The sources said that 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 Gen Pervez Musharraf who strongly favoured retention of Mushahid Hussain Sayed.