ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party is still mute about its role in the federal cabinet but is ready to accept constitutional offices any moment, political sources said.
The sources told The Nation, that the PPP leadership was holding meetings with the party lawmakers on a daily basis to take a final decision.
“Several lawmakers believe we should stay out of the cabinet and concentrate on the general elections which would be held earlier than scheduled. (Prime Minister) Shehbaz Sharif however, is convincing us (the PPP) to join the cabinet to show solidarity with the coalition government. We are still discussing and may eventually agree (to join the cabinet),” said a senior PPP leader.
He said it might be difficult to remove President Arif Alvi through impeachment but he was expected to resign after the ouster of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf-led government. “If Arif Alvi quits then there will be tie between (PPP co-Chairman) Asif Ali Zardari and (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman) for the top constitutional post. Both parties (PPP and the JUI-F) are interested in this slot,” he added.
Another PPP leader said PM Sharif wanted to have Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the Foreign Minister but there was division within the party on this option. “In case we finally decide against nominating Bilawal for the FM’s slot, there are the names of Sherry Rehman and Hina Rabbani Khar for the position. Sherry Rehman and Shazia Marri are also being considered for the Information Ministry. Shehbaz Sharif has not yet offered this slot to the PPP as he wants to have his own loyalist (possibly Maryam Aurangzeb) for the post but this could be discussed,” he remarked.
He said since the Finance Ministry will definitely go the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Naveed Qamar could get statistics or Commerce. Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sherry Rehman are the candicates for the Senate Chairman’s office. Former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is a candidate for the Speaker’s post. More than the cabinet slots, the PPP is looking to have its nominees as the Speaker, Senate Chairman and possibly the President’s office.
The new ruling coalition comprises eight political parties and four independents. Sharif, wants to take along all his allies, particularly those who joined them after quitting the PTI coalition government. Sharif has held separate meetings with PPP leaders and former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman, MQM-P leaders, BNP-Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal, parliamentary leader of the BAP Khalid Magsi, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Shahzain Bugti and independent member Aslam Bhootani on the new cabinet.
Two constitutional offices have already fallen vacant after the resignations of the National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, while the new coalition is also planning to remove Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. From the PML-N Rana Sanaullah is expected to be given the portfolio of the interior ministry and Maryam Aurangzeb could be the next information minister. PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique, Khurram Dastgir, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, and Murtaza Javed are likely to be inducted in the federal cabinet.
Independent candidates Mohsin Dawar and Aslam Bhootani and PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema are also likely to be included in the cabinet.
The name of Azam Nazir Tarar is under consideration for the Leader of the House in the Senate. The PPP will give a ministry to either Sherry Rehman or Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar from the Senate.
The JUI-F is likely to get the governor of Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from their party, while the governor of Punjab will be from PPP and the governor of Sindh from the MQM-P.
The sources told The Nation, that the PPP leadership was holding meetings with the party lawmakers on a daily basis to take a final decision.
“Several lawmakers believe we should stay out of the cabinet and concentrate on the general elections which would be held earlier than scheduled. (Prime Minister) Shehbaz Sharif however, is convincing us (the PPP) to join the cabinet to show solidarity with the coalition government. We are still discussing and may eventually agree (to join the cabinet),” said a senior PPP leader.
He said it might be difficult to remove President Arif Alvi through impeachment but he was expected to resign after the ouster of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf-led government. “If Arif Alvi quits then there will be tie between (PPP co-Chairman) Asif Ali Zardari and (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman) for the top constitutional post. Both parties (PPP and the JUI-F) are interested in this slot,” he added.
Another PPP leader said PM Sharif wanted to have Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the Foreign Minister but there was division within the party on this option. “In case we finally decide against nominating Bilawal for the FM’s slot, there are the names of Sherry Rehman and Hina Rabbani Khar for the position. Sherry Rehman and Shazia Marri are also being considered for the Information Ministry. Shehbaz Sharif has not yet offered this slot to the PPP as he wants to have his own loyalist (possibly Maryam Aurangzeb) for the post but this could be discussed,” he remarked.
He said since the Finance Ministry will definitely go the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), Naveed Qamar could get statistics or Commerce. Former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and Sherry Rehman are the candicates for the Senate Chairman’s office. Former Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is a candidate for the Speaker’s post. More than the cabinet slots, the PPP is looking to have its nominees as the Speaker, Senate Chairman and possibly the President’s office.
The new ruling coalition comprises eight political parties and four independents. Sharif, wants to take along all his allies, particularly those who joined them after quitting the PTI coalition government. Sharif has held separate meetings with PPP leaders and former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman, MQM-P leaders, BNP-Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal, parliamentary leader of the BAP Khalid Magsi, Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Shahzain Bugti and independent member Aslam Bhootani on the new cabinet.
Two constitutional offices have already fallen vacant after the resignations of the National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker, while the new coalition is also planning to remove Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. From the PML-N Rana Sanaullah is expected to be given the portfolio of the interior ministry and Maryam Aurangzeb could be the next information minister. PML-N’s Khawaja Asif, Saad Rafique, Khurram Dastgir, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shaista Pervaiz Malik, and Murtaza Javed are likely to be inducted in the federal cabinet.
Independent candidates Mohsin Dawar and Aslam Bhootani and PML-Q’s Tariq Bashir Cheema are also likely to be included in the cabinet.
The name of Azam Nazir Tarar is under consideration for the Leader of the House in the Senate. The PPP will give a ministry to either Sherry Rehman or Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar from the Senate.
The JUI-F is likely to get the governor of Balochistan or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from their party, while the governor of Punjab will be from PPP and the governor of Sindh from the MQM-P.
