As many as 14 ministers are likely to take oath in the first phase of new federal cabinet formation, it is learnt. According to sources, in the first phase, two new faces, Faisal Raza Abdi and Fouzia Wahab of PPP would be inducted in new cabinet. They said that Faisal is likely to become state minister for information.
Sources said that in the first phase, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh, Ahmed Mukhtar, Khursheed Ahmed Shah, Naveed Qamar, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Rehman Malik and Nazar Muhammad Gondal of PPP would be included in the cabinet. Ghulam Ahmad Bilour of ANP, and Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi from FATA would also be part of the new federal cabinet. They said that the President and Prime Minister also contacted Mutthahida Quami Movement (MQM) and invited it to join the cabinet, but the latter refused to join.
Sources said that the incumbent ministers would perform their duties till the president administers oath to the new cabinet, while oath ceremony is likely to be held by Friday. Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Fazlur Rehman called on President Asif Ali Zaradri in presidency on Wednesday. During the meeting, he was asked to join the new cabinet.
According to sources, separate meetings by Fazlur Rehman were held with the Prime Minster and the Interior Minister. Both leaders invited him to join the new cabinet. According to a handout issued from the Presidency on Wednesday, it was a luncheon meeting of Fazlur Rehman with the President. Current political situation and the proposal of a roundtable of political parties were discussed in the meeting.
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