PM Nawaz likely to reshuffle cabinet after Senate polls

Khawaja Asif and Ishaq Dar may be removed from their respective positions

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to reshuffle and expand the federal cabinet after the Senate elections scheduled to be held on March 5.

“Reshuffle in the federal cabinet besides inclusion of new ministers from two other political parties is on the cards but the prime minister has decided to postpone it till the upcoming elections to the upper house of parliament in which 52 new senators will be elected,” a source in the federal cabinet told Daily Express on the condition of anonymity.

The sources added that the portfolios of some key ministers, including that of Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Abid Sher Ali, are expected to be changed in the cabinet reshuffle. “New faces might be given the driving seat to run the important ministry of water and power in order to expedite government efforts for overcoming the chronic power crisis,” one source said.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) has already warned in its report that resolving the ongoing crisis may take more time than 2017 – the time stipulated by the prime minister.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, though a close relative of Nawaz Sharif, might also be deprived of the finance ministry. “The reasons of changing Ishaq Dar as being discussed in the power corridors include dismal economic revival despite tall claims of revamping the national economy and alleged involvement in recent petrol crisis,” the source said.

“Being close to PM Nawaz, it is most likely that Ishaq Dar will be given some other ministry and if things go as the PML-N is expecting out of the upcoming Senate elections, it is also being contemplated to pitch Ishaq Dar’s name for the next chairman Senate,” the source added.

He said talks were under way with Qaumi Watan Party of Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao and the MQM and they might be included in the federal cabinet in the coming days.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2015.