Naek's appointment as Law Minister under consideration

The ruling alliance is considering appointing Chairman Senate Farooq H Naek as the new Federal Law and Parliamentary Affairs minister in place of Senator Maula Bux Chandio, well informed sources revealed. Farooq Naek, senior PPP sources maintain, has the capacity to deal with the complex constitutional scenario that may emerge in the near future with verdicts expected in the Prime Minister's and the former Law Minister Babar Awan's contempt case within the month.
Senator Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari has been tipped as the favourite replacement as Chairman Senate while Senator Raza Rabbani as Chief Whip in the Senate is also being considered, sources said. It has been learnt that Senate Chairman Farook H Naek has already been informed about his new assignment as head of Ministry of Law and Justice. It is expected that his portfolio would be changed in a major reshuffle later this month in the federal cabinet in the wake of the new shape of the Senate and by-elections on six seats of the National Assembly.
An official of Ministry of Law and Justice admitted that there were strong rumours of Naek's appointment as Law minister however he added no official notice had so far been received by the Ministry in this respect. The sources in the Ministry, however, alleged that the new Minister might face considerable resistance from his subordinates as Babar Awan was still a part of the decision making process in the Law Ministry.
In the past, the PPP leadership had taken Babar Awan into confidence over the selection of Chandio as his replacement after he resigned to contest Z A Bhutto case in the apex court. The party co-chairman obliged the former minister Awan by appointing his brother Farooq Awan as Adviser to Prime Minister on Law and Parliamentary Affairs. Secretary Ministry of Law and Justice is also a close aide of Babar and was a contractual employee.
Sources said it had been decided by President Asif Ali Zardari that Babar Awan would be given back the portfolio of Law Ministry upon the decisions in presidential reference on the Z A Bhutto case, however political realities had undergone a change that made this promise unlikely to be fulfilled in the near future.
Senator Maula Bux Chandio was made Law Minister only after the Supreme Court asked the government to appoint a new minister without delay after Babar Awan resigned. The Law Minister is a member of the National Judicial Commission and his presence is required for the appointment of judges and other matters.