ISLAMABAD: A small cabinet of the incoming Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif is likely to take oath along with him at the presidency in Islamabad today.
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.
Internews
