Shah Mahmood likely to be foreign minister: finance may be headed by Naveed or Dar
Shah Mahmood likely to be foreign minister: finance may be headed by Naveed or Dar
RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (March 25 2008): The other Makhdoom of Pakistan People’s Party from Multan and president of party’s Punjab chapter, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, is strongly expected to get the key portfolio of foreign affairs in the Makhdoom Yusuf Raza Gilani-led cabinet. The other top portfolio-finance-is likely to be headed by Naveed Qamar of PPP or Pakistan Muslim League-N’s Ishaq Darr.
Some well-placed party sources told *Business Recorder *on Monday that the coalition partners have divided the ministries/portfolios into three broad categories. Group A, which has been named as Security, includes the portfolios of defence, foreign affairs, interior, FATA and Northern Areas, Group B or Economy Group consists of all those subjects that are related to economy.
These include finance, commerce, Planning Commission, Privatisation Commission, Board of Investment, industries, ports and shipping and communication. Its sub-group known as Energy comprises water, power and petroleum. Group C, the sources said, will mainly deal with social sector areas such as education, health, women development.
Sources said the two senior coalition partners–PPP and PML-N–have been mulling over the proposal which envisages their shares in the pie on the basis of division of Cabinet portfolios into three categories. “As far as Category A is concerned, it will definitely go to the PPP while the PML-N has to choose either Category B or C,” the sources said and added that the junior coalition partners ANP and JUI-F will be accommodated in these groups.
Based on this formula, the sources said, the PPP was thus able to shortlist and finalise its candidates for some key posts, including that of foreign minister, much before it formally announced the name of its nominee for the PMship. This ministry has been given to a person who was also among the front runners for the post of prime minister.
Similarly, the sources added, the PPP has shortlisted Khurshid Shah from Sindh and Qamaruzzaman Kaira from Punjab for the post of interior minister. Names that have emerged from the PPP camp for other posts are: Senator Farooq Naik, Senator Babar Awan, Nawab Yusuf Talpur, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Sherry Rahman. Sherry Rahman, who was being actively considered for the post of information minister, is likely to get some other portfolio. All of them have their portfolios notified once the PML-N decides the Category or Group in the Cabinet for itself.
In addition to Ishaq Darr, the PML-N, the sources said, had shortlisted the names of Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, Khawja Mohammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal and Tahmina Daultana for the Cabinet posts. However, the sources added, Hashmi had declined the ministry on grounds that he would not take oath from President Musharraf.
As far as ANP is concerned, it has finalised the names of Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Mohammad Khan Hoti for the Cabinet posts. The third of its nominee will be selected from two candidates-Mateen Khan or Arbab Zahir. According to sources, the initial Cabinet will consist of 18 ministers. The number of ministers will increase to 40 in due course. The cabinet members are expected to take oath by Friday.
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So cabinet is taking shape…PML(N) also wanted finnance and Foreign ministry…Let’s see how this game go forward.