Key portfolios prolong debate on Cabinet
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—With prolong debate over cabinet decision could not spring major breakthrough and the matter went pending likely tomorrow. “We have no differences over any issue, things are going on smoothly and according to rules, nonetheless the decision about slots of ministries is not yet to be prepared,” said former candidate of Prime Minister Ahmad Mukhtar talking to media persons on Thursday at Zardari House.
He claimed “the official decision is expected tomorrow by Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari himself”. He said in the beginning more than twenty ministers would be nominated of coalition parties but soon it might be strengthened up to forty.
To a question regarding appointment of non-political persons as advisor in the government, he said “We have no particular aim of deputing non-political persons, that had been widely practiced during the past regime”. He also clarified the fact that Mutahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) seldom put any demand to PPP for getting ministries.
He asserted that distribution of the slots of ministries would be forwarded according to the ratio of strength of coalition parties in the Parliament. The Secretary General of PPPP, Sherry Rehman has strongly refuted that there was any difference over allocation of portfolios among ruling coalition.
Talking to journalists after holding dialogue with delegations of representative parties, she assured that there was complete consensus and harmony over this issue, and said that in the first phase of the Cabinet forming, 20-22 ministers would be inducted. She also informed that all-important issues have been discussed and decisions taken, while these representative committees would be again holding talks after consulting their respective party heads, after which co-chairman PPPP Asif Ali Zardari would announce the names of finalized ministers.
During dialogue between representative committees, it was also decided that all governmental and opposition members would be instituted as head of Parliamentary committees. Central leader Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Nabeel Gabool has said that there was no clash among coalition Parties over distribution of ministries, adding that, the incoming Federal Cabinet would be constituted in two or three phases. Talking to Private TV Channel here on Thursday, Nabeel Gabool said, all the coalition Parties have agreed on formula for distribution of ministries. Co-Chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari knows about allocation of ministries and portfolios, he said, added, 20 or 22 ministries would be inducted in Federal Cabinet during first Phase.
Under the formula, he said, PPP would get 10 ministries, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) get 8 Ministries while each Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam (JUI-F) would get one ministry respectively. Leader Awami National Party (ANP) Haji Adeel on Thursday said that his Party and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) still have reservations over inclusion of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Government. ANP and PML-N can sit with MQM in Government but first MQM would have to apologise before the nation over May 12 bloodbath in Karachi, he said this while talking to Private TV Channel. He asked MQM to apologise before the nation over May 12 incident of violence in Karachi.