Major shuffle in federal, Punjab cabinets on cards

• Cabinet reshuffle likely next week after completion of ministers’ performance review
• Water and Power Minister Asif likely to be replaced, deprived of additional charge and inducted on a ceremonial post
• Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry, Marvi Memon, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtayar, Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju, Zulfikar Khosa likely to be inducted

A cabinet reshuffle is likley in the next week, following a performance review of parliamentarians which is expected to start tomorrow, Pakistan Today has learnt.

During a meeting at Raiwind Sunday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif reviewed the political situation and deliberated on the induction of new ministers in the federal and Punjab cabinets besides getting rid of some old ones, sources said.

The total strength of the federal cabinet is 38. Per the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the strength of the federal cabinet cannot exceed 11 percent of the strength of both houses of the parliament. Thereby, a total of 49 members can be inducted in the federal canbinet as the total number of parliamentarians is 446 –342 in the Lower House and 104 in the Upper House.

WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT:

A source in the ruling party told Pakistan Today that whereas the PM wanted a major shuffle in the federal cabinet based on the performance of the incumbent ministers, the Punjab CM advised him to include only time-tested and seasoned politicians in the team.

“During recent meetings, the PM has conveyed to Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Zia) Chairman Ijazul Haq and Qaumi Watan Party (QWP) President Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao to join his cabinet. Haq is interested in the charge of Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony while Sherpao wants the charge of the Interior Ministry. However, the PM is reluctant to give the Interior Ministry portfolio to Sherpao and he may be given some other office,” the source said.

The source added that the real challenge faced by the PM was the allocation of the portfolio of Ministry of Law and Justice.

“It is likely that Anusha Rehman may be appointed Minister for Law and Justice due to her clout in the party,” the source added. For the time being, Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid is officiating as a de-facto law minister but he cannot be formally assigned the portfolio due to a Supreme Court ruling.

“Junaid Anwaar Chaudhry, Marvi Memon, Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtayar and Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju are likely to be inducted as state ministers,” the source said.

“Memon wants to be state minister for finance but Senator Ishaq Dar is resisting her appointment,” the source added.

The source said that in order to woo back Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa and his sons, the PM was considering accommodating either senior Khosa or one of his sons in the federal or Punjab cabinets.

Moreover, the PM also plans to get rid of his additional portfolio of foreign affairs minister and appoint a full-fledged minister to the post instead, the source said, adding that Senator Pervaiz Rashid was also likely to be relieved of the additional charge of the Law Ministry.

Khawaja Asif is likley to given a ceremonial post as the PM is reportedly “unhappy” with Asif’s performance as minister for water and power.

“Asif may be replaced and given some ceremonial office in wake of his recent skirmishes with Shahbaz and his role in the misunderstandings between the government and the army chief,” the source said.

“Asif is also likely to be relieved of the additional porfolio of defence minister,” he added.

REVIEW OF MINISTRIES STARTING TOMORROW:

In the meanwhile, the PM has directed all cabinet members to send evaluation reports of the performance of their respective ministries, divisions and departments from June 2013 to date to the PM’s Office.

“The ministers have been directed that the brief should include details regarding the extent to which the ruling party’s manifesto has been implemented, reforms programme and the steps being taken for public welfare as well as an agenda for the future,” according to an offciial statement issued earlier.

Special cabinet meetings would kick off tomorrow and continue till the completion of the reviews.

“The evaluation process may take three to four days and the cabinet reshuffle may take place next week,” the source said, adding that the PM has decided to include PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq and Secretary General Iqbal Zafar Jhagra to attend the meetings and assist the cabinet’s review.