Minor delay: Punjab cabinet likely to be unveiled by Monday

Nawaz, Shahbaz shortlist 15 ministers out of 30 aspirants.

LAHORE:

Newly elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif have short listed names of members of the Punjab cabinet who are likely to be sworn in by Monday at the latest.

According to sources privy to the matter, the delay took place because the Sharif brothers differed on how many people the cabinet should consist of.

According to law, the Punjab cabinet is entitled to 39 ministries. However, Nawaz Sharif had asked Shahbaz to accommodate only 19 ministers in his cabinet but Shahbaz had refused saying that he should be allowed to appoint 12 to 15 ministers in the first phase and 10 ministers in the second phase.

The brothers have now short listed around 15 ministers so far out of a total of 30 aspirants.

Another reason cited for the delay was the alleged rift between Rana Sanaullah and Rana Mashhood. The chief minister of Punjab had to step in and urge Nawaz to give Sanaullah a major role to play in the provincial cabinet.

Sources revealed that former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah is to get the portfolio of senior minister along with the additional charges of law minister and local government minister. The well placed party official added that in the absence of Shahbaz, Rana Sanaullah will head the various meetings and cabinet, and will in effect be in charge of the Punjab assembly as well.

Sanaullah will additionally be assigned with the crucial task of preparing the draft for local government elections and conducting elections across the province, the source said. It will be his job to make sure the party triumphs in those elections.

The party heads contemplated Rana Mashhood’s portfolio and suggested he should continue with his previous part time duty to mobilize the youth and have also decided to assign him the department for the betterment of youth and sports.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 9^th, 2013.