Election winning Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is contemplating over a dozen names to be taken as federal ministers in the incoming cabinet, sources said.
A party official close to co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari told Business Recorder on Tuesday that several heavyweights who were holding cabinet slots in PPP's twin stints in power in late 80s and mid 90s are likely to regain their jobs.
Some new faces including females, he added, would also be inducted into the elite club to run the affairs of various ministries and divisions.
Strong aspirants for important positions are Naveed Qamar (finance); Khawaja Asif Ahmed Ali (foreign affairs); Khursheed Shah (defence); Shah Mahmoud Qureshi (petroleum); Yousaf Talpur (food), Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani (inter-provincial co-ordination) and Farooq H Naik (law).
Besides, three females Sherry Rehman, Dr Fahmida Mirza and Shehnaz Wazir Ali are eyeing information, health and education portfolios respectively. Yousaf Raza Gillani may be a candidate for the slot of speaker National Assembly, a position he once held in mid 90s. Dr Babar Awan is being tipped as new attorney general of Pakistan.
A public announcement of future ministers is expected at a news conference by Zardari on Thursday after a meeting of PPP federal-legislatures elect. The name of the prime minister, still a mystery, will also be revealed at the same event.
Sources said names of ministers were discussed at various levels within the party after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz refused to share ministries.
The PPP, PML-N and Pushtoon nationalist Awami National Party (ANP) have agreed to form a coalition to govern at the centre and in provinces but modalities of their co-operation are still to be framed.
"Now it's clear that the PML-N will not join the cabinet at least in first phase. Same may be the case with the ANP. So initially it is going to be all PPP cabinet," the official added.
According to the information available, small cabinet of around 15 members would be sworn in along with the new premier, whose nomination is also not confirmed yet. Sources said provinces would get a proportion in the cabinet according to the party strength there.
The PPP swept its power base Sindh, remained marginal in Punjab, shared victories with Pushtoon nationalists in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) but couldn't accomplish a lot in Balochistan. "So, naturally more members will come from Sindh followed by Punjab, NWFP and then Balochistan," the official said.