ISLAMABAD: The devolution of five federal ministries – Local Government, Zakat and Ushr, Youth Affairs, Population Welfare and Special Initiatives – to the provinces has left the bereaved ministers in utter desperation, as most of them see no imminent chance for a re-induction into the federal cabinet.
Of the five ministers, Firdous Ashiq Awan is lucky to have clinched another important ministry, Women Development, which is not included in the list of the ministries being devolved.
But Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Lal Mohammad Khan and Noorul Haq Qadri have become ministers without portfolios, while Khuda Bakhsh Khan Rajar of the PML-F, who was sworn-in only a week back as replacement for former Local Government Minister late Abdur Razzaq Thahim, is yet to be given a portfolio.
A well-placed source told Pakistan Today that Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, upon his return from Turkey, was likely to ask these four ministers to voluntarily resign before he himself took a decision.
“The prime minister will host a lavish banquet for the outgoing ministers and after praising their good work as members of the federal cabinet, will ask them to tender their resignation,” the source said.
The devolution of five ministries has put a question mark on the fate of around 3,700 employees of these ministries. Apart from the affected ministers, a parliamentary secretary and seven parliamentary standing committees will also be dissolved automatically.
Minister for Zakat and Ushr Noorul Haq Qadri said he was abroad and had no idea about the fate of his ministry. Lal Mohammad Khan also had no clue. Shahid Hussain Bhutto said the prime minister did not give any hint about the fate of the outgoing ministers – a clear sign that these ministers were not being re-inducted into the cabinet.
“It would be impossible for the PM to keep so many ministers without any portfolio, as a lot of ministries will be devolved. I think resignation will be an honorable exit for all of us,” he added.
On the other hand, Bhutto is making last ditch efforts to take control of the National Volunteers Movement.
