Almost a week after the induction of more than 21 new members in the federal cabinet, the government still appears hesitant about the distribution of portfolios to these new ministers and advisors.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continued his series of meetings with some of the new ministers on Wednesday, but sources said it has not been decided who will get which ministry.
Inside sources claim that being the largest party in the alliance, the PML-N wants to get key ministries, including some ministries in which members of the alliance parties have shown interest.
Those who met the prime minister included Federal Minister for Petroleum Mosaddiq Malik, Federal Minister for Energy Sardar Owais Leghari, Ikhtiar Wali, Ministers of State Abdul Rehman Kanju and Talal Chaudhry, besides Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office told Dawn that some portfolios have been confirmed but have not been officially announced yet.
Voters of PML-N MNA Hanif Abbasi from Rawalpindi are confident that he will get the Railways ministry as banners displayed on Murree Road for the past few days have congratulated him on becoming the Railways minister.
Similarly, PML-N Chief Whip in the National Assembly Tariq Fazal Chaudhry is likely to get the Health ministry.
Ahad Cheema currently holds two portfolios, including Economic Affairs and Establishment Division, and he may lose the Establishment Division, which could go to the Prime Minister’s confidant and newly appointed advisor Dr Tauqir Shah.
Tehreek-e-Pakistan Party (TPP) leader Abdul Aleem Khan, who currently holds three ministries, is trying to retain the communications ministry, which the PML-N is also eyeing, inside sources say. Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Khalid Magsi is also eyeing the same ministry.
PML-N leader Khawaja Asif, who currently holds the defence and defence production portfolios, may have to step down in favour of former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Pervez Khattak, who was previously defence minister in Imran Khan’s cabinet.
