Federal cabinet resigns

New smaller cabinet may be announced today; Raza Rabbani tipped as law minister, Babar Awan as information minister.

ISLAMABAD:

All members of the federal cabinet resigned on Wednesday after an ‘emotional farewell meeting’, paving way for Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to appoint a ‘smaller and honest’ cabinet. However, insiders say there will hardly be any ‘big surprises’.

The new cabinet is expected to be announced on Thursday (today), said officials in the government and the ruling Pakistan Peoples party (PPP).

But the move could be delayed for a day or two to allow the premier time to persuade estranged allies, the Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led Jamiat Ulema Islam and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, to rejoin the cabinet.

All the ministers will continue to work till then because their resignations are yet to be accepted by Gilani.

Last week, the central executive committee (CEC) of the PPP had authorised Gilani to first dissolve his cabinet and then come up with a “lean, mean and aboveboard” cabinet.

There had been calls, particularly from the opposition,  to downsize the federal cabinet, one of the biggest in the world, in a bid to slash government expenditures.

The government says that its decision to “rightsize” the cabinet is in compliance with the 18th constitutional amendment which calls for the size of the cabinet to be not more than 11 per cent of the total strength of parliament.

Resignations of all the ministers, ministers of state and advisers were submitted to Gilani after a meeting here where the premier heaped praise on them, calling their almost three-year ‘service to the nation’ remarkable.

“We have achieved a lot in three years… all this was possible because of your devotion and dedication to this country for which I pay you a glowing tribute,” Gilani told his outgoing ministers.

His speech at the 76th meeting of the cabinet recalled the key decisions taken after the PPP-led coalition government came to power in March 2008 as a result of the general elections.

Familiar faces

PPP insiders say almost all prominent figures from the previous cabinet are expected to be included in the new one but with different portfolios.

However, officials say that Senator Raza Rabbani might replace Dr Babar Awan as minister for law, justice and human rights. Awan is being tipped as minister for  information and broadcasting in the new cabinet in place of Qamar Zaman Kaira, who could become interior minister.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik is expected to be made adviser to the president on national security and political affairs with the status of senior minister.

Officials say several other ministers are also likely to be retained. Their portfolios can, however, be changed. They include Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh (finance), Pervez Ashraf (water and power), Naveed Qamar (petroleum), Khurshid Shah (religious affairs), Nazar Muhammad Gondal (agriculture), Makhdoom Amin Fahim (commerce) and Hina Rabbani Khar (state minister for finance). PPP members Asma Arbab Alamgir and Ayatollah Durrani and Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour of the Awami National Party (ANP) are also likely to retain their jobs.

Phased approach & allies

PPP officials say that the new cabinet is expected to be formed in three phases. The first batch of up to six PPP ministers and some from coalition partners is expected to be sworn in by weekend. This will be followed by two more phases.

MQM, JUI-F seek more time

Government leaders continued to persuade the MQM and JUI-F to rejoin the cabinet until late on Wednesday night. A spokesperson for the MQM told The Express Tribune that the party was unlikely to rejoin the new cabinet.  “We are still considering the offer from both the president and the prime minister,” MQM MNA Haider Abass Rizvi said.

Meanwhile, high profile meetings helped both the PPP and the JUI-F to mend ties. “It looks as if the ice has started melting … but it will take some time for tangible developments,” said officials privy to meetings of the JUI-F chief with both the president and prime minister.

A handout issued by the premier’s office after Gilani-Fazl meeting said the prime minister had assured the JUI-F leader that his concerns about any changes to the blasphemy law would be addressed. Though the statement did not mention this, insiders said Gilani invited Fazl to rejoin the cabinet, which is to be reconstituted in a couple of days. The JUI-F chief, however, sought some time to consult his party colleagues.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2011.