President, PM not on same page

ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari were not on the same page on the issue of reshuffle in the Federal Cabinet and showing of door to some of the top bureaucrats, a few Pakistani ambassadors and members of the Federal Cabinet who had obtained benefits from National Reconciliation Ordinance. Sources in the Government informed TheNation that a list of over 70 people with the recommendation for immediate removal from service was sent to the Presidency by Prime Minister Secretariat a week ago but so far their was no word from Presidency. Sources further said that Prime Minister Gilani was determined to show door to all the NRO-tainted persons before the 13th of this month so that the pressure on the Government regarding the NRO implementation could be released before the court would take up the case. Sources further said that Prime Minister had also floated the idea that all the NRO-tainted bureaucrats, ambassadors and ministers would be temporarily separated from their posts so that they could approach the relevant courts to get themselves cleared. But there was complete silence on the subject in Presidency and the hawks in the Presidential camp were of the view that instead of conceding to the Supreme Court of Pakistan they should fight it out. However, the Presidency was on same page with Prime Minister regarding some changes in the Federal Cabinet, not in the backdrop of NRO but the performance of the ministers in the recent past. Sources further informed that a number of state ministers would be shown door while the portfolios of some ministers would also likely be changed. According to the insiders that PPP leadership was in contact with its coalition partners and they would also be taken on board in this connection. According to sources, the portfolios of Arbab Alamgir, Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Rana Farooq Saeed and a few others would likely to be changed. Efforts would be made to bring Senator Mian Raza Rabbani as full-fledged Federal Minister for the slot he has been resisting for a long time owing to his differences with the party on principles. Sources further informed that Pir Aftab Shah Gilani, Rafiq Jamali, Anisur Rehman, Sumsam Bokhari, Tasneem Qureshi, Mumtaz Hussain Gilani, Ijaz Jakharani and a few others would likely lose their berths in the Federal Cabinet and could be given some other assignments. Sources in the Pakistan Peoples Party informed that PPP members, who were on borderline, were struggling to remain a part of the Cabinet while the aspirants of getting place in the Cabinet were also putting in their best to get the affirmative signal from the party high command.

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