Anticipation: Select cabinet likely to take oath with incoming PM

Amidst lobbying for slots, Nawaz keeping cards close to his chest.

ISLAMABAD:

A small cabinet of the incoming prime minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to take oath with him tomorrow (June 5th).

Careful in choosing his team, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif will first fill the key ministries with his core team, but he will try to compose a cabinet of less than two dozen ministers, PML-N sources said.

Amidst hectic lobbying for cabinet slots, Nawaz is keeping cards close to his chest. He might be challenged by the task of accommodating all provinces in the cabinet since most PML-N members come from Punjab.

Though many names have been circulating in the corridors of power for aspirants of cabinet slots, PML-N insiders say these are mere speculations: the likely ministers in the first phase include Ishaq Dar for the finance portfolio, Khawaja Asif for water and power.

It is also expected that the PML-N government merges the ministries of commutation and railways. The probable name to head this ministry is Khawaja Saad Rafiq, though he himself is interested for information ministry, PML-N sources said.



Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s name is making the rounds for the slot of interior minister. But another likely candidate for this key ministry is Lt. General (Retd) Qadir Baloch from Balochistan.

Moreover, Nisar is also likely to be declared senior minister along with his ministerial portfolio which will enable him to act as prime minister in Nawaz’s absence.

Apart from Chaudhry Nisar, Senator Pervez Rashid and Ahsan Iqbal are also strong contenders for information ministry. Mushahid Ullah Khan is also among the strong candidates of a ministerial slot.

On the other hand, Zahid Hamid has been tipped as minister for law justice and parliamentary affairs, while Nawaz might keep the ministries of foreign affairs and defence to himself, while Tariq Fatemi is likely to be appointed as advisor on foreign affairs.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khurum Dastagir Khan can be Nawaz’s pick for the commerce ministry.

Among the women parliamentarians, Anusha Rehman and Sara Afzal Tarar are expected to make their way to the cabinet.

Pleasing the provinces

Although the PML-N, enjoys a comfortable majority in the Lower House of the parliament, it would have to accommodate its allies from Sindh and Balochistan to balance the cabinet and dispel the impression of Punjab dominated government.

Karim Baloch, a PML-F member can be taken into the cabinet from Sindh. From K-P Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, and from Fata Sajid Tori is expected to be appointed as ministers in the second phase.

From amongst the religious minority members, Kamran Micheal is expected to make his way to the federal cabinet.


Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2013.