The incumbent federal cabinet is said to be holding its last meeting on Wednesday (today) under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, an official exclusively disclosed to Business Recorder on the condition of anonymity.
On January 23, 2011, Prime Minister Gilani had confirmed that his government had taken a decision to cut and reshuffle the federal cabinet. "What I can confirm is that the present cabinet will hold its last meeting on January 26, 2011, after which all the cabinet members will tender their resignations to the Prime Minister," the official added.
According to him, the new cabinet will comprise 24 members including one Federal Minister from each ally political party and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (Fata). Analysts are of the view that if this formula is implemented, about 25 or 26 Federal or Ministers of States will be axed. To a question, the official disclosed that after the formulation of new cabinet, allies would be given top positions in different public sector organisations.
Last Saturday, Minister for Law and Justice Dr Babar Awan had apprised the media that the President and Prime Minister have decided to right-size the federal cabinet. "All the Ministers have been informed that this cabinet meeting will be the last and it is hoped that the incumbent cabinet will pose for a group photograph on Wednesday," the official continued.
Political pundits maintain that at least those Federal Ministers whose names are being cited in the media about their alleged involvement in corruption will be axed or at least their portfolios will be changed. Supreme Court of Pakistan is also hearing a number of financial scams linked to Ministry of Water and Power, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Interior (Capital Development Authority) and National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). Minister for Privatisation Senator Waqar Ahmad Khan is also facing a case in the Lahore High Court (LHC).
A number of ministries have already been devolved or transferred to the provinces whereas MQM and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam (JUI-F) have left the cabinet. Minister for Religious Affairs Hamid Saeed Kazmi was sacked by the Prime Minister for his war of words with Minister for Information Technology Senator Azam Swati who also levelled corruption charges against the Prime Minister.
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