The PTI and JI are likely to announce the provincial cabinet in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) after successfully putting behind the controversy over the distribution of ministries.
It is learnt that the JI has now withdrawn from its claim over the Education Ministry and is ready to get what the PTI gives on its own.
Sources disclosed that the JI would get the Health Ministry instead of the Education Ministry. The decision to give out the Health Ministry is a well-considered one. One consideration for giving health slot to the JI is the polio vaccination controversy in that part of the world. The locals have been resisting the polio vaccination as something unhealthy or unIslamic. It is believed that the JI, being a religious party with roots in KP, is best suited to restore the campaign and lead it from the front besides clearing the concepts of local about the anti-polio drops.
The JI is also going to get the finance and zakat and ushr ministries. It is to be recalled here that JI’s Senior Minister Sirajul Haq has already been working as the finance minister. As per agreement, all coalition partners of the PTI will get three ministries each.
The deadlock was almost broken the other day in consultations between the PTI and JI leaders in Lahore in the presence of Imran Khan. Later, Haq who was leading the talks from JI side got the green signal from JI chief Munawar Hasan the other day.
The controversy over the distribution of portfolios delayed the formation of cabinet in KP despite the fact that Pervez Khattak was first to take oath as the chief minister about two weeks back. The delay and wrangling over the cabinet slots was surprising for the political circles, expecting the new government in the province instead to get its acts together and focus on the formulation of provincial budget and show its mettle.
