The media was rife with rumours about the resignation of Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar after his conspicuous absence from an all-important meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet, which was chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday. At a time when countrys security and defence departments are in a deep crisis, the Defence Minister is not being seen anywhere. He didnt even bother to condemn or give his reaction over the PNS Base Mehran terror attack that took place late on Sunday. He was also not seen on media after the Abbottabad operation by the US Marines killing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden early this month. He even didnt participate in a couple of defence committee meetings held in fortnight. There was speculations in some sections of media that Rehman Malik could take the charge of Defence ministry.