Kaira, Gondal likely to be inducted

As Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani is set to reshuffle his cabinet, some important PPP stalwarts including Qamar Zaman Kaira and Nazar Gondal are likely to be inducted while some PML-Q ministers including Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Amir Muqam are going to be deprived of their portfolios.
“In the cabinet reshuffle which is likely to be made in a day or two, PPP Information Secretary Kaira is going to replace Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan while Gondal will be given the portfolio of the Ministry of Water and Power,” said a reliable source in the government. He said there were chances that Raja Pervaiz Ashraf would also be inducted in the federal cabinet.
The source said in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar would be likely given the portfolio of the Interior Ministry while Interior Minister Rehman Malik would take charge of the Defence Ministry. “Despite repeated requests being made by the prime minister, former Senate chairman Farooq Naik and Senator Raza Rabbani have declined his offers of becoming members of his cabinet,” the source said.
The source said Gilani had decided to sack three PML-Q ministers, including Muqam, Minister for Professional and Technical Training Riaz Hussain Pirzada and Minister of State for Housing and Works Raza Hayat Hiraj.
“The prime minister has taken this decision after consulting the Chaudhrys,” the source said. Muqam is federal minister without any portfolio and had resigned from his position days after taking oath as federal minister in May last year as he was unhappy with the portfolio of the Ministry of Production but his resignation has so far not been accepted by the Prime Minister.
Hiraj had also resigned after developing differences with Minister for Housing and Works Faisal Saleh Hayat many months ago but his resignation too has so far not been accepted by the prime minister.
The source said the seats being vacated by the PML-Q members would be filled by the same party’s parliamentarians and most likely PML-Q MNA from Sahiwal, Nauman Langrial would be inducted in the federal cabinet.
“Newly-elected MQM Senator, Mustafa Kamal is also being inducted in the federal cabinet. The recent episode of protest demonstration by the Muttahida in the National and Sindh assemblies against PPP government over extortion issue was meant to secure ministerial berth for Senator Mustafa Kamal by exerting pressure on the PPP,” the source added.