Pakistan: Shehbaz Sharif Consults Coalition Partners Over Cabinet Formation

Islamabad, April 13: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with the leaders of the coalition parties on Tuesday and discussed cabinet formation with them, The News reported. Shehbaz Sharif held separate meetings with PPP leaders and former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto- Zardari, Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) President and JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, MQM-Pakistan leaders, BNP-Mengal Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, parliamentary leader of the BAP Khalid Magsi, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Chief Shahzain Bugti and independent member Aslam Bhootani in this regard.

However, reports say that PPP is unwilling to join the cabinet, saying that it would support the government from the treasury benches in a better way, as apparently one group within the party favours the idea of joining the cabinet to strengthen the coalition, while the other group is of the view that the party should instead focus on electoral reforms for early election. Some PPP members said they were more interested in the constitutional offices of the parliament and would join the cabinet in the second phase. There is a consensus in the party on taking over the office of the National Assembly speaker with Raja Pervez Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar as its candidates. Ashraf was a strong contender, while Maulana Asad Mehmood of the JUI-F, the son of Maulana Fazlur Rehman, could be the deputy speaker.

If the PPP does join then the federal cabinet will have 12 ministers from the PML-N, seven from the PPP, four from the JUI-F, two from the MQM-P, one each from the BNP-Mengal and the ANP. Shahzain Bugti of JWP and the BAP will also be given one ministry each while Mohsin Dawar, Aslam Bhootani, Tariq Bashir Cheema of the PML-Q may also be included in the cabinet. From the PML-N, Khawaja Asif, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Khurram Dastgir, Ahsan Iqbal, Maryam Aurangzeb, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, Mian Javed Latif, Rana Sanaullah are likely to join the cabinet. The names of Senator Sherry Rehman, Senator Mustafa Nawaz Kohar, Syed Naveed Qamar, and Shazia Marri from the PPP are also under consideration, along with that of Senator Azam Nazir Tarar for Leader of the House in the Senate. However, the final decision will be made in a few days. UNI