Cabinet takes oath amid grievous challenges
PPP, PML-N take lion share with 11 and 9 ministries ANP, JUI-F get three slots
By Our Special Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—President Pervez Musharraf Monday swore in a 24-member federal cabinet of the new coaltion govermment at a graceful ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Chairman Senate Muhammadmian Soomro, Chief Justice, senior politicians and federal secretaries.President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani entered the hall together as bugles were sounded. The national anthem was played and after recitation from the Holy Quran the President administered the oath to the cabinet.
Among 24 ministers of the newly sworn-in cabinet, Pakistan Peoples Party and Muslim League (Nawaz) make the major and almost equal share of the roll, with eleven and nine ministers respectively. Apart from these 20 ministries, two have been allocated to members of Awami National Party, while one minister each belongs to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) and FATA.
Those who took oath include; Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan (Senior minister, Communications with additional charge of Food, Agriculture and Livestock), Shahid Khaqan Abbasi (Commerce), Tehmina Daultana (Culture), Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar (Defence), Rana Tanveer Hussain (Defence Production), Ahsan Iqbal (Eduction, additional charge Minorities), Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi (Environment), Muhammad Ishaq Dar (Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs and Statistics), Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi (Foreign Affairs), Rehmat Ullah Kakar (Housing and Works), Sherry Rehman (Information and Broadcasting), Qamar Zaman Kaira (Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas), Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah (Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis), Farooq H. Naik (Law and Justice), Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour (Local Government.