Coalition in crucial parleys over Cabinet
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—The first batch of as many as 20 federal ministers are likely to take oath of their office on Saturday. Central leader of Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told Geo News that the federal cabinet would take oath in three phases.
He said PML-N wants small cabinet.He criticised PML-Q for keeping a large cabinet that consisted of 80 plus ministers, state ministers and a brigade of advisors. Meanwhile PPP leader Syed Khurshid Shah told Dawn News that coalition partners are agreed on distribution of ministries in accordance with ratio of MNAs. The first batch of ministers will take oath this week.It can be consists of either 15 or 20 ministers in the first phase. In case of 20 ministers, 10 would be from PPP,8 from PML-N, one each from ANP,JUI and others.
PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said the federal cabinet will be small adding the matters related to number of ministries and parliamentary secretaries and standing committees have been decided. PPP leader Khurshid Shah has said PPP has no differences with any party over allocation of ministries adding MQM could be included in federal cabinet in near future.
Consultative committee of coalition partners has settled all the matters pertaining to No of ministries and chairmen of standing committees, says private TV channel here Wednesday. PML-N delegation will meet Asif Zardari in connection with allocation of portfolios.
The ruling coalition made consultation in a meeting here at Parliament house on the issues including formation of government, formulation of cabinet at first phase and first 100 days plan of new government. Talking to mediamen after the meeting Chaudhry Nisar Ali told final meeting would be held with Asif Ali Zardari. Matters regarding chairmenship of the committees, No of cabinet members and parliamentary secretaries have been finalized and the remaining issues still stand unresolved. All the government formation matters will be finalized within next two days ahead of March, 29. . Cabinet strength would be 20 in first phase, he told.
PPP leader Khurshid Shah said issue of distribution of ministries has already been resolved as ministers would be taken in proportion to No of members of national assembly of the respective party. If 20 ministers are taken then 10 will be taken from PPP, 8 from PML-N and 1 each from ANP and JUI, he told. One minister may be taken from FATA, he added. He told MQM could be included in federal cabinet in near future. This issue was however not discussed in the meeting but consultation in this regard would continue, he added.
There would be strict monitoring system in the Parliament to evaluate performance of federal ministers aimed at making them more diligent and effective to deliver, a central leader of Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) Dr. Babar Awan said Wednesday.