ISLAMABAD: In a notification issued on Monday evening, senior minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has been appointed as the deputy prime minister of the country, Express News reported.
Shakeel Anjum, Express News correspondent in Islamabad, said that the position had been created to provide a backup for the times when the incumbent prime minsiter is not available or incapacitated.
The notification added that Elahi will not possess the powers of the prime minister.
On Friday, Elahi had taken oath as the sole senior minister in prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf's cabinet as the federal minsiter for defence production and industries.
15 more members inducted into federal cabinet
Fifteen more members of the parliament were included in the Federal Cabinet on Monday during an oath taking ceremony held at the President House.
President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath to the new members belonging to Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q).
Sardar Bahadur Khan Sehar, Liaquat Abbas Bhatti, Sardar Talib Hussain Nakai, Sheikh Waqas Akram, Anwar Ali Cheema, Ghous Bukhsh Mehr, Jam Muhammad Yousaf and Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain took oath as federal ministers.
Meanwhile, Rana Asif Tauseef, Malik Nauman Ahmed Langrial, Sardar Shahjehan Yousaf, Senator Saeed Khan Mandokhel, Chaudhry Ghias Ahmed Mela, Akram Masih Gill and Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood were inducted as the new ministers of state.
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, Chief Minister Balochistan Aslam Raisani along with members of the federal cabinet and parliamentarians attended the oath taking ceremony.
COMMENTS (49)
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Shameless leaders. Our only hope is Nawaz Sharif.
Shame for the government alongwith its allies. Shame for PPP, MQM, ANP and PML(Q).
Shame for PPP and PML(Q). They are power hungry politicians. No attention towards public issues. Only running after power to do more corruption.
@Abdullah Khan: thats the best act he has commited so far for the country............
@Hairaan: No my friend this is bhutto's party they dont give they just take take take take
And Monis Ilahi will get an officical route again while roaming in Lahore with all traffic signals closed and people stopped at signals and crossings in this lovely weather ... :)
he is a great person, and very hard working..may god bles him and v need mre ppl lyke him...he has dne many thngs whn he was a cm..there is nothng better den 1122 service as there is nothng mre imp den life..nothng can match the price of life....i wil always pray 4 u as ur dis service saved my uncle life whn he had accident last year...god bles u...
@U: Keep blaming Musharraf.. you have no future.. mark my words dear..
Why don't they make everyone in the NA a minister or minister in waiting, this government of PPP is the government of thugs and looters and are the most incompetent people I have ever seen in Pakistan. Pakistanis just don't have the backbone to come out and ask for early elections. Every one was right on target that this guy Ashraf was the most corrupt and now we are seeing it. I wonder how much the Supreme Court of Pakistan can do when this whole lot is corrupt to the core start from the President and PM Houses to the NA and now to the PAs. There is no limit to the greed.
I Congratulate our President for such bigheartedness. After all, you gain more support and love from your & other's constituencies by not only involving their voice but their leaders too in sharing the matters of the state. It's hard to defeat a party who cater this way to all. I'm definitely looking forward to better days for the country and the nation in whole. I also belief it's PPP members who's acceptance mattered for such deals that really made the difference for the nation in this tough times.
The great Zardari game continues. Long Live Zardari!
Same actors and thugs taking turn raping the motherland - and all the people can do and have done for the last 50 years is look the other way - hoping and praying that it will end. When will enough be enough so that this .1% can be cleansed. The same sham democracy and circus between Khaki duffers, brain washing mullas and feudal politicians will continue on for the next 50 years - these thugs are prolific in producing new and more venomous breed of snakes.
Make the entire NA a cabinet because for a government with just 180 seats approx. there are 80 ministers... Thats hilarious.
They divide ministries and posts like thugs divide their loot after a big dacoity!!!
@Rakesh: Are you sure, it is the speaker of the NA? I was always under the impression that the Chairman of the Senate acts as an interim Head in case the leader of the country (President or PM depending on the amendments 13, 17 and 18) is incapacitated. A recent example that comes to mind is of Mian Muhammad Soomro, who was the Chairman of the Senate and served as the PM after Shaukat Aziz and the President after Pervez Musharraf (both in 2008).
In any case, you could be right. I believe there is probably some confusion at this stage as to the exact role of the Deputy PM. According to the 18th Amendment the PM is the Head of the State and his constitutional replacement would most likely be Nayyar Hussain Bokhari.
Ch Pervez Elahi's role would probably be similar to that of Nick Clegg in the UK, where it is an honory title and the powers do not extend in case the PM is incapacitated.
@Pakistani Hindu: You are so right!
Great News , This man has Delivered in the past . He was way better then Shahbaz in governance during his tenure
@ASQ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3upcGOqFSw watch it pervez elahi explains all propaganda, he presented document proofs in this clip before Hamid Mir that Shareef brothers actually took loan from Punjab bank and they didnt returend, Get ur facts right Shareef brothers were actually involved in Punjab bank scandal
Must Watch
@Saad: dear how could u say that junior board officers didn't wanted proper system, get ur facts right borads demanded it but the tender was given on the basis of nepotism by Shahbaz Shareef that's why students suffered, Moreover Engro cheif wasn't aware that Bait ul Maal money (zakaat) was used in sasti roti scam to get fame, if it was so good project then why CM has closed it now? Which International community appreciated CM punjab over dengue action?, in fact he was the culprit who didnt ordered to spray at the right time.
And my friend China does not have CM like Shahbaz Shareef thats why they are progressing dont compare him with there governance system
Wasn't he one of the four men BB suspected and named in her could-be assassination appraisal. Tribute
let's sell Pakistan at full rate now :(
another master stroke by ZARDARI shareefs will have sleepless nights now
@Pakistani Hindu: Wasn't he part of Mush Government himself??? He ran biggest province of the country for him.What has changed now, is he not the same person?
Ok ppl. Dont make it One party Vs Another party discussion. Fact is ministries are run by Secretaries, Appoint honest Secretaries and ministries will run fine. Govt is for making policy. 15-20 good policy makers are enough for Policy making and thats how much our Cabinets should be.
Ch sahab!,,,please do something seriously for electricity shortage.
What??????????
keeps getting better and better...
Dirtiest, sleaziest , shameless, unprincipled, politics at display. Nothing more, nothing less.
@Pakistan politics: kindly don't forget about Bank of Punjab scam running into billions before presenting your liked politican as an angle!!!!
@ Pakistan politics Dengue was dealt properly. It received praise internationally. Educational scam arose because boards didnt wanted Punjab Govt to introduce a better check and Balance system. Sasti Roti audited by Engro ( when Pti VC Asad Umar was their CEO ) ask Asad why he praised Sasti Roti. Thing is these ministries are actually run by Sectaries. Look at China. How many ministers they have?
Good to see him as a deputy PM
Game of power grabbing is on; none of these politicians care about the country or ordinary people.
@Pakistan politics: Agreed with u, Pervez elahi is no doubt a competent man but now he cant do anything
Ch sb congtas. u r great visionary man
Rome was burning while Nero was playing the flute.
Is he going to have power to write letter to Swiss court if asked by SC?
Ch pervaiz elahi Eduacation policy was great, Build universities, Free education till matric and spent billions in giving scholarships and brought 1million new students to schools providing them free books and education. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKjSzV9WrQg
world bank president talks about Pervaiz elahi's education policy
@Saad: yes CM Shahbaz governance with limited ministers is very appreciable, Dengue killed more than 1000 people, 400 heart patients suffered due to medicine scandal and there was no health minister, Education board scandal when students were on the roads and there was no Education minister, Sasti roti scam, Aashiyana housing scam, doctors are on the roads, Is that what u call a good governance as Shahbaz shareef possess all the ministries
"His notable political achievements includes reforms in the education sector which lead to literacy rate increasing from 47 percent in 2002, to 62 percent in 2007 in the province. It included free Education in public schools up to Metric, free Distribution of 28 million books in all public schools, stipend for 11 lac girls in 15 low literacy districts, provision of 118276 missing facilities in 63882 schools, 50000 graduate teachers recruited and 275 schools upgraded/established and teacher’s training for 122087 teachers in 2007/08. These steps were endorsed and appreciated by various donor agencies such as World Bank. His other notable achievement include setting up Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology in Multan, University of Gujrat in Gujrat, Traffic Wardens system in Lahore, Rescue 1122 service in Punjab, 36000 km road construction in punjab, water course brick lining and Lahore Ring Road Project." (Wikipedia)
My expectations are very high, i'm sure he will bring change in system of governance
Those who were against Gen Musharraf.. this govt is for you. You people deserve this.
Ch Pervaiz Elahi is a veri competent man and he proved when he was CM of punjab, Things will change now, this is great news
And the Musical Chairs continue.......
That is not all. All NEW ministers will demand NEW cars and new layout of their offices and residences. In the past in-coming ministers have refused to use and take over OLD cars that were used for 90- days by the caretakers. Who in turn also had bought new ones for their 90 day tenure. Watch out for throw away so called auction prices for OLD stuff. (Of course only if you know right people up there and have right connections).
Is there any limit on the total number of Federal Ministers, State Ministers, Advisers, Senior Ministers, etc in the constitution? We will vote only for the party proposing a reasonable limit for there Princes.
every politician has the equal right to enjoy the tax payer money
15 more minister for our economy to bear??? . Can I ask them what was the budget deficit last time and what is their new target??? Pmln Punjab govt is the best out of all governments we have. Few minister and even they had a pay cut this time