Coalition allies devise modalities for cabinet
By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—As nomination of premiership candidate is expected within a few days, the PPP-led coalition partners have finalized the formula for distribution of cabinet slots among themselves. A joint committee of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) continued meetings on Tuesday to draw-up an agreement for power-sharing.
Briefing the media om decision of the meeting, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar said that all the coalition partners have already completed the homework for power-sharing and an announcement is expected soon. “We have finalised the modalities for cabinet and committee of every party would now present it before it’s leadership for approval,” he said.
“When PPP will announce the candidate for the prime minister next week, it would comprise names of ministers and their portfolios,” he added. Another PML-N leader Ishaq Dar also endorsed Chaudhry Nisar’s statement, saying “there is nothing pending now.” Central Information Secretary of PPP, Sherry Rahman said that the coalition partners would hold more meetings to maintain the confidence and mutual trust among themelves. She said Pakistan People’s Party would give same respect to the coalition partners and a mutual consensus would always be evolved before taking important decisions. Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party will get 20 out of 40 cabinet slots under the formula of parties’ ratio in the National Assembly.
According to sources PPP and PML-N had already agreed on distribution of cabinet slots however the formula was revised after ANP and JUI-F entered the future government scenario camp. “Under the revised formula PPP will get 20 out of 40 cabinet slots, while, PML-N would be given 13 ministries . The source said three ministries are to be given to ANP, JUI-F is to have two and FATA will get one respectively JUI-F and FATA would be given three, two and one ministries respectively”.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Awami National Party and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (F) have finalized 20 members Federal Cabinet during its first phase, according to sources. It is merit mentioning here that the Federal Cabinet would be constituted in three phases. According to the sources, Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Yousaf Raza Gillani are hot favourite for the slot of Premiership while Makhdoom Amin Fahim and Ahmed Mukhtar are out of race for the premiership, the sources told.
There would be 10 ministers of PPP, 8 of PML-N and 1 of ANP and 1 of JUI-F in the Federal Cabinet, sources said. Syed Khurshid Shah would get Interior Ministry, Sherry Rehman Information Ministry, Naveed Qamar Finance Ministry and Ahmed Mukhtar would get Commerce Ministry.
Yousaf Raza Gillani, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Abdul Akbar Khan, Taj Muhammad Jamali of PPP while Chaudhary Nisar Ali, Ehsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Tehmina Doltana and Mehtab Abbasi of PML-N are among the members Federal Cabinet, sources confirmed sofar. Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian (PPPP), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) have finalized formula for distribution of ministries, assembly business and formation of Government. The formula for distribution of ministries was finalized in joint meeting of PML-N, PPPP, ANP and JUI-F here in the committee room of the Parliament house. During the meeting, PML-N was represented by Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Senator Ishaq Dar, PPPP by Senator Raza Rabbani and Sheri Rehman.