As the federal government paves way for the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl to join the government, the federal cabinet will be expanded after Eid to include party leaders, sources told Pakistan Today on Wednesday.
The sources said the expansion was taking place to mainly induct JUI-F members in the cabinet, but some PML-N leaders too also in the race to capture the limelight as federal ministers.
Two favourites for the cabinet slots from the JUI are Akram Khan Durrani, former KP chief minister and Maulana Gafoor Haideri.
However, some JUI leaders privately discount the chances of Akram Khan becoming a federal minister from the JUI-F quota.
The prospects of JUI-F and PML-N joining hands and making a political alliance are quite bright after Fazlur Rehman positioned himself against the PTI both in the national and provincial arenas. Both Maulana and Imran are making personal attacks against each other with a quality of character assassination.
Meanwhile, the expected cabinet expansion is also considered by some PML-N aspirants as a last chance to enter the cabinet. Those vying for a cabinet slot include Dr Tariq Fazle, PML-N MNA from federal capital. He is a close friend of Chaudhry Nisar and is making desperate attempts to find a berth in the cabinet.
Another gentleman trying hard to get into the cabinet is Abbas Khan Afridi, a member from FATA, who only few months ago was quite close to the PPP leadership.
KP governor:
Mehtab Khan Abbas has been tipped as the most favourite for the gubernatorial office. Earlier, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra and Abbasi were the two main contenders for the ceremonial office.
Sources in the PML-N revealed that Sharifs had recently given a green signal for Abbassi’s appointment as the KP governor.