Decided at last?: Govt allots ‘coalition’ portfolios to PPP ministers

All departments, except Jam Madad Ali's science and technology portfolio transferred to PPP ministers.

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has not yet accepted the resignations of the “opposition parties” ministers, but has given their portfolios to the ruling party ministers.

Except for the science and technology portfolio which is still with PML-F’s Jam Madad Ali, all other departments have been handed over as additional charges to the ministers of PPP.

According to a government notification issued on Thursday, the Sindh minister for Katchi Abadis, Nadeem Bhutto, has been given the charge of the Auqaf department, which was held by PML-F’s Rafique Banbhan. The special education department, which was earlier with Imitiaz Shaikh of PML-F, has been given to Sindh Archives Minister Muhammad Rafique Engineer. The Sindh housing minister, Agha Taimoor Pathan, has been given the additional portfolio of the livestock department, which was earlier held by NPP’s Abid Jatoi. The mines and minerals department has been taken back from PML-F adviser Nasir Nizamani and handed over to Sadiq Ali Memon, who was working as a minister without a portfolio.

Following the resignation of PML-Q’s Shaharyar Mahar, the alternate energy portfolio was given to Shaikh Muhammad Afzal of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27^th, 2012.