—Aleem Khan, the PTI leader under NAB’s radar, named as senior minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has named a 23-member Punjab cabinet after consultation between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar concluded on Sunday.
According to a press release issued by the party, the provincial cabinet includes Mian Mahmoodur Rashid as a minister for housing and urban development; Yasmeen Rashid as a minister for health; Samiullah Chaudhry as food minister; Mohsin Leghari for the post of irrigation minister; Makhdoom Hashim Bakht as a finance minister; and Fayyaz ul Hasan Chohan as a minister for information and culture.
Aleem Khan, the PTI’s senior leader who is currently under the radar of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in graft cases pertaining to offshore company and assets beyond means, has been named as the minister for local government and community development as well as a senior minister. He has appeared before the NAB in this regard as well.
Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed (Excise and Taxation and Narcotics Control), Hafiz Amar Yasir, Yasir Humayun Sarfraz (Higher Education) and Mian Aslam (Punjab Industries, Commerce and Investment) and Murad Raas (School Education) have also been named in the cabinet.
Others who got the portfolios are Taimoor Khan (Youth and Sports), Raja Rashid Hafeez (Revenue), Anser Majeed Niazi (Labour and Human Resource) and Raja Basharat (Law and Parliamentary Affairs).
The ministers who have not yet been assigned portfolios include Muhammad Sibtain Khan, Sardar Asif Nakai, Hafiz Ammar Yassir, Malik Nouman Langrial, Hasnain Dareshak, Malik Muhammad Anwar, Chaudhry Zaheerud Din and Hashim Dogar.
Muhammad Akram Chaudhry has been named as the political advisor.
The announcement was made hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar interviewed 30 lawmakers before picking the cabinet’s members. The nominated ministers will take oath on Monday at the Governor House.
PM, CM MEETING:
PM Imran Khan had summoned Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Sunday to discuss the formation of provincial cabinet and finalise names in this regard. The two met at the Prime Minister House where the premier also interviewed as many as 30 lawmakers who are being considered for various positions in the Punjab cabinet.
On August 20, newly elected Punjab CM Buzdar took oath of his office at a simple ceremony at the Governor’s House. Acting Governor Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi administered the oath. PM Imran Khan’s aide Awn Chaudhry was appointed as an adviser to the Punjab chief minister.
According to reports, the senior bureaucracy of Punjab is likely to undergo a massive reshuffle as several officials in the province, including the chief secretary and inspector general of police (IGP), may be replaced under the new PTI government.
