Following the conclusion of the recent general elections, discussions regarding the composition of the new federal cabinet are in progress, with the likelihood of a 25-member cabinet in its initial phase.
PML-N leadership, represented by Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, convened a significant meeting to assess the party’s engagements with various allies and contemplate potential cabinet members, according to sources familiar with the matter as reported by The Express Tribune on Wednesday.
During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif provided an overview of the party’s alliances and discussed potential candidates for the federal cabinet. In the initial phase, the cabinet is anticipated to comprise 25 members, with MQM-P expected to secure three to five ministries.
Leaders from MQM-P, including Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Farooq Sattar, Mustafa Kamal, Aminul Haque, and Khawaja Izharul Hasan, are under consideration for significant positions within the federal cabinet, based on information from PML-N sources.
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PML-N has identified 15 senior leaders for ministerial roles, including Ishaq Dar, Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Riazul Haq Juj, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Qamarul Islam Raja, and Rana Tanveer Hussain.
Awn Chaudry from the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) is expected to be appointed as the special assistant to the prime minister.
In previous reports, PML-N outlined an initial power-sharing arrangement for the upcoming federal government. The arrangement suggests that if the coalition agrees to designate a PML-N candidate as the prime minister, the positions of president and speaker would be offered to the PPP.
On Tuesday, Shehbaz emerged as a prominent contender for the premiership, receiving support from former coalition partners, including PPP, MQM-P, PML-Q, BAP, and IPP. Nawaz Sharif strategically nominated his younger brother for the premiership and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, for the role of Punjab chief minister.
A joint press conference held in Islamabad featured prominent political figures, including Shehbaz, Asif Ali Zardari from PPP, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from MQM-P, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain from PML-Q, Sadiq Sanjrani (representing BAP), and Aleem Khan from IPP. They expressed unwavering support for Shehbaz and pledged to collectively address the country’s challenges in a coalition government.
While the specifics of the power-sharing arrangement remain undisclosed, the conference hinted at Zardari’s potential candidacy for the presidency in the near future.
