ISLAMABAD – The PPP core committee on Monday resolved to induct another five PPP leaders into the federal cabinet in the second phase of cabinet formation, with Sherry Rehman, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Faisal Raza Abidi, Raja Parvez Ashraf and Sardar Aseff Ahmed likely make it to the cabinet. A source told Pakistan Today that names of two former information ministers – Kaira and Sherry Rehman – were being considered for the foreign minister, while Sardar Aseff might also be considered for the slot.
The source said President Asif Ali Zardari told the PPP core committee that the cabinet strength would be increased in two phases, of which the first batch would be inducted in the next few days and only PPP ministers would be inducted to the cabinet, while the MQM or PML-Q members would be inducted later. He said the performance of each and every minister would be closely watched and any minister who failed to perform would be shown the door after a review, to be monitored by none other than the prime minister and report would be submitted to the party leadership on quarterly basis.
“The president hopes that the accountability process will help upgrade the performance of the federal cabinet and bring a good name to the PPP-led government,” the source said.
5 PPP ministers
The source said the president also told the meeting that the government had decided to task former law minister Babar Awan with representing the federation in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case and expressed confidence in him vis-a-vis the ZAB reference.
“Babar Awan briefed the meeting on the ZAB case and the government’s plea with the Supreme Court of Pakistan. He also assured the members that the government’s case was strong and the objective of correction in the history would be achieved,” the source added.
