(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to expand the federal cabinet as well as the Punjab cabinet, most probably by the end of the month of Muharram, it was learnt.
The expansion will see some fresh faces from both the PML-N as well as some allied parties joining the federal and provincial cabinets. The decision, according to sources, was taken in a series of brainstorming sessions of the ruling party this month.
These sessions were attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his core ministers Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Asif, Pervaiz Rashid and Ahsan Iqbal Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his son MNA Hamza Shahbaz. They also decided to take back additional portfolios from some of the incumbent federal ministers.
The expansion was expected last month but the move was deferred due to the volatile political situation in the country. Now, the ruling party will wait until the end of the upcoming sessions of the National Assembly and the Punjab Assembly.
Or if the sessions are prorogued in respect for Muharram, then new federal and provincial ministers will be unveiled after the first 10 days of the holy month.
According to credible sources, the PML-N will offer two portfolios to the heads of two of its allied parties - Ejazul Haq of the Pakistan Muslim League Zia and Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao of the Qaumi Watan Party.
A head-hunt is under way for the law ministry as Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has suggested that a full-fledged law minister be brought in to act as a bridge between the government and the judiciary, sources said.
Although Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid has been officiating as a de facto law minister, he cannot be formally assigned the portfolio due to a Supreme Court ruling.
The information minister confirmed that the federal cabinet would be expanded after the National Assembly session. Four to five new faces will be introduced in the cabinet, while additional portfolios would be taken back from some of the incumbent ministers, he added.
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