In a major development, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is expected to announce in his address to the nation on Saturday (today) the formation of a smaller cabinet with the dissolution of the existing one, strictly in accordance with the 18th Constitutional Amendment.
According to some well-placed official sources, as many as 14 ministers will be taking oath the same day (today) in the first phase of the new cabinet formation process. There will be 12 ministers from PPP while two from ANP and FATA. The prime minister is likely to reduce his cabinet of 52 ministers to between 20 and 30. Most of the shad portfolios will devolve to provinces under the 18th Amendment.
The sources also said that the PPP had also requested MQM and JUI(F) to become part of the 'smaller' cabinet. On Friday, The Central Executive Committee (CEC) of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) gave the go ahead to Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to dissolve the Cabinet and form a smaller one, in view of the 18th Amendment.
A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting of CEC of PPP chaired by co-chairman President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Prime Minister and PPP Vice President Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and those ministers who are members of the CEC attended the meeting.
"All the members of the CEC have authorised the President and the Prime Minister to dissolve or reshuffle the Cabinet any time. In this regard, Federal Minister for Commerce Makhdoom Amin Fahim submitted his resignation to the President. All the members showing confidence in the PPP co-chairman unanimously decided to tender their resignations to the President," PPP Central Secretary General Jahangir Badr told the news conference here after the CEC meeting. He said it would be up to the Prime Minister to determine when the dissolution would take place.
Answering a question, Badr said the Cabinet would be dissolved in consultation with coalition partners. The Prime Minister is continuing the process of consultations with other parties on behalf of the President, he said. Answering another question, Badr said the strength of the new Cabinet would be in accordance with the 18th Amendment of the Constitution.
The decision was taken after the co-chairman invited members' comments on his intention to install a 'small' Cabinet. All the ministers, advisors, special assistants and those holding the rank of ministers will cease to hold offices on a date to be decided soon by the Prime Minister.
Answering another question, Badr said the government would consult MQM and JUI-F leadership over formation of the new cabinet. He said the government would continue its fight against terrorism with the support of all political parties. It would also adopt a common strategy about price hike with assistance of other political parties.
Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar told media that the CEC authorised Prime Minister Gilani, who was also present at the meeting to dissolve the Cabinet and reappoint a smaller cabinet with fewer ministers enjoying reputation of integrity, competence and efficiency in consultation with coalition partners.
All the ministers, advisors, special assistants and those holding rank of ministers will cease to hold offices on a date to be decided by the Prime Minister in consultation with coalition partners and under the guidance and advice of party's co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
He said speaking on the occasion, the President touched upon a number of issues ranging from progress on investigation in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and a broad overview of performance of government and the Cabinet during last three years and strategy to revitalise economy in view of mounting economic pressure. The President said that he would continue to guide the party and the government.
The President said the Prime Minister had already made the position of the government clear on the blasphemy law on the floor of the House. He said the Prime Minister had also invited religious leaders and political parties in the Parliament to work together in finding a solution so that misuse of the law could be prevented. There was no other forum better than the Parliament for this purpose, the President said.
Talking about the US national involved in the murder of 2 Pakistani youths in Lahore, the President said that the government had taken a principled position that the matter was before the judiciary whose verdict should be awaited and respected. The President also made an impassioned plea against exploiting the incident for political point scoring and saying or doing anything that makes its just resolution in national interest difficult and intractable, Farhatullah Babar said.
About investigation in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the President said that significant progress had been made and some accused were already in custody, who would be tried and punished under the law. No one involved in this crime in any way would be allowed to get away, he said.
The President paid tributes to Salmaan Taseer describing him as a martyr in the cause of protecting the rights of minorities who courageously expressed his reservations against laws that had been misused to settle personal and political scores behind the shield of religion.
He said he had sent his sister Faryal Talpur to Salmaan Taseer's family on the day of the assassination, for condolence and he also visited the family a few days later. Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari Friday night telephoned PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif. According to President's spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, the two leaders discussed the current political situation.
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