Sharifs in no hurry to name cabinet

Still basking in the glory of their new-found mandate, the Sharifs are in no hurry to focus on their new line up for the Centre, but the race is on among party leaders for important places in the cabinet and government.

Party sources disclosed that so far only two top figures had their berths confirmed in the future cabinet and they were none other than Ishaq Dar and Sartaj Aziz.

It is an open secret that Dar will look after the Ministry of Finance and is already in action to prepare the 2013 budget in time. Similarly, the PML-N circles are abuzz that Aziz will be the next foreign minister.

Next in line are two party heavyweights, Nisar Ali Khan and Khwaja Asif. Both are close to the Sharifs and both are hoping to land important ministries.

Before elections, it was believed that Nawaz would try either of them as the chief minister of Punjab if Shahbaz opted to be the federal minister for water and power.

Sources close to Nisar said the PML-N veteran would be very happy if he was tried as the foreign minister this time. Not many people know that Nisar has a Masters degree in International Relations.

In case not, he will be contented if the Ministry of Interior falls in his lap. Asif is interested in the Ministry of Petroleum, according to party sources.

Another party stalwart Ahsan Iqbal might have his eyes set on the Ministry of Education, given his own interests in the sector.

Similarly, a number of party leaders are after the Ministry of Information. Pervez Rasheed is one of the hopefuls. Mushahidulllah, the party’s spokesman might be also interested in the slot and the limelight it brings.

But sources close to him say he was more interested in the governorship of Sindh.

Khwaja Saad Rafique, though in troubled waters after allegations of rigging in NA-125, is another well-known leader in line for an important slot.

Khurram Dastgir is another party leader vying for a place in the next cabinet.

With the PML-N bagging most of its seats from Punjab, it is expected that most of the federal ministers will be from the largest province.

Outside Punjab, General (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch is another potential candidate from Balochistan.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Sharifs have limited options with most of the party top leaders, including Mehtab Abbasi, Amir Muqam and Sabir Shah losing elections. With these top figures out of the way, the only known face left from KP is Capt (r) Safdar, son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif.

Omer Ayub, who joined the party last year, is also an option.

But the Sharifs are so far taking it easy as no party meeting featuring central leadership has been called yet. But for the newly-elected lot, all roads lead to Raiwind.

Sources disclosed that Nawaz these was more interested in proposals regarding how load shedding could be reduced in the coming three months, or how investment could be attracted in the country against all odds.

“Nawaz asks people calling on him to firm up their proposals on the challenges his government faces,” senior party leaders said.