PML-N has cabinet surprises up its sleeve

Several names shortlisted for key slots; foreign ministry may be kept vacant for Bilawal

ISLAMABAD:

As the process of the formation of the new federal government will kick off from Thursday (today) with the inaugural session of the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif, the PML-N president and prime minister-in-waiting, is engaged with the party leadership to finalise his cabinet.

The party is tight-lipped, but insiders told The Express Tribune on Wednesday that several names had been shortlisted for the key cabinet slots.

The first batch of ministers will be sworn in the moment Shehbaz takes charge as the premier next week.

As the PML-N, PPP and MQM-P have the required number, Shehbaz's election as the next premier is a foregone conclusion.

Given that the PPP will not join the cabinet to begin with, many other ministers will likely be allotted more than one portfolio.

The move is aimed at leaving the option open for the PPP to join the cabinet later.

Although there is no official confirmation yet, sources said it was likely that PML-N’s Attaullah Tarar would be appointed as the federal information minister.

The outspoken PML-N leader defeated PPP co-chairman and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari in the race for a Lahore NA seat.

Rana Sanaullah, who lost the polls, may return as the interior minister after being elected as a senator or winning an NA slot in the by-polls for the seats to be vacated by those who emerged victorious in more than one constituency.

There is no clarity yet about who will take the most crucial ministry of finance given the enormous economic challenges faced by the country.

The veteran Ishaq Dar is still in contention but there is opposition to his appointment both from outside and some from within the party.

Some sources claimed that Dar could be appointed as the foreign minister given his close relationship with PML-N supremo and three-time former premier Nawaz Sharif.

They added that as Pakistan needed financial support from its usual friends including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and China, Dar as the potential foreign minister could play a crucial role.

As he has been dealing with these countries as the finance minister, Dar, if given the portfolio of the foreign ministry, can use his experience to help secure funds for the government.

Khawaja Asif is another potential candidate for the post of the foreign minister.

However, the sources said these were proposals at this stage and the final list of ministers might look different.

Another option is to keep the post of the foreign minister vacant and instead appoint either an adviser or special assistant.

Syed Tariq Fatemi, a former diplomat and long-term aide of Nawaz, may be assigned that position.

The idea is mooted to hand over the post to Bilawal if the PPP decides to join the cabinet.

Bilawal served as the foreign minister for 16 months during the previous coalition government.

The sources said the PML-N would finalise the names in the next few days and also decide which ministries would be given to the MQM-P.