Fresh faces dominate Maryam’s cabinet

More than half of the Punjab cabinet are first-timers

LAHORE:

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz appears to have preferred fresh faces over old guards as more than half of her eighteen-member cabinet comprises first-time ministers.

Meanwhile, in a somewhat surprising move, despite having a coalition partner in PML-Q, her cabinet did not feature any member from IPP, even as strong rumours suggested the party's parliamentary secretary was in line for a ministerial position.

The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Governor House Punjab, where eighteen MPs were sworn in. Of these eighteen members, twelve are set to function as provincial ministers in Punjab for the first time.

If Azma Bukhari, whose term lasted a mere four days, is to be included, the count of first-timers rises to thirteen.

She has been given the information ministry.

In addition, Marriyum Aurangzeb, who previously served as a federal minister for information and broadcasting, is making her debut in Punjab to assist CM Maryam, who lacks parliamentary or firsthand experience of working in the government of her own.

However, not all first-time ministers lack political experience, as some have held elected positions in the past.

Read more: Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa cabinets sworn in

For instance, Mian Muhammad Kazim Hussain Peerzada, assigned to the irrigation ministry, served as a parliamentary secretary and tehsil nazim.

Similarly, Rana Sikandar Hayat, who is now handling the portfolios of school education and literacy and non-formal basic, served as a district chairman in Kasur during the last local body's term.

Other newcomers to the cabinet include Sohaib Ahmad Malik, the nephew of incumbent Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman, assigned civil & works; Ramesh Singh Arora from Kartarpur; Faisal Ayub Khokhar from Lahore; Zeehsan Raffique from Sialkot; Bilal Akbar Khan from Narowal; Syed Muhammad Ashiq Hussain Shah from Okara.

Strikingly, the list also features Sohail Shaukat Butt, reportedly accused of high-profile murders. Sohail, despite his notoriety, ascended in party ranks after securing relief for Shehbaz Sharif's immediate family in a viral bakery fight incident on social media.

Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani, who previously served as deputy speaker, will be a provincial minister for the first time, overseeing the mines and mineral portfolio.

Chaudhry Shafay Hussain, son of PML-Q's Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, has also found a place in the provincial cabinet, despite lacking parliamentary experience. He has been appointed as the minister for commerce and industry.

A senior PML-N leader, when questioned about IPP's absence from the list, said he was also unaware of the reason behind their absence from the list.