Second phase of federal cabinet reshuffling expected next month

The second phase of Federal Cabinet reshuffle/right sizing is expected next month (March) after devolution of five more ministries to the provinces under 18th Amendment of the Constitution, it is reliably learnt. The PPP is making all out efforts to convince its coalition partners, (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) and former (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam), to accept cabinet positions in the second phase of the Cabinet reshuffle.
Well-placed sources in the PPP told Business Recorder that eight to ten new ministers would be appointed in the second phase of the cabinet reshuffle/right sizing. They said that the ministries currently lying with the Prime Minister would be offered to the MQM and JUI-F provided efforts of the PPP proved successful in persuading the two party leaders to rejoin the cabinet. The MQM if it agrees to rejoin the cabinet may be given two ministries, however, the party had expressed its reservation to PPP about not being offered vibrant ministries.
When contacted Senator, Colonel Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi (Retd) of MQM revealed that his party has given a 9-point to the PPP for good governance. He said that the PPP government had only implemented two points so far. "We will not become part of the cabinet until and unless the PPP-Government implements the remaining points as well," he said.
Repeated attempts by the government and even by President Asif Ali Zardari have proved unsuccessful in convincing the JUI-F leadership to rejoin the cabinet and reverse its decision to part ways with the ruling coalition on December 14 last year.
The JUI-F had submitted an application to the Speaker of National Assembly and Chairman Senate to relocate seats for the party's members on opposition benches in both the Houses of the Parliament. In this regard, the Speaker has accepted the application and allotted seats to the members of JUI-F on Opposition benches.
When contacted JUI-F Spokesman, Maulana Amjad Khan said, "We have many times conveyed to the government that the JUI-F has already decided to sit on the opposition benches in both Houses of the Parliament and will never rejoin the federal cabinet", He said that the same message was also conveyed by JUI-F Chief, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman to the President during his last meeting on February 05 in the presidency.
According to the sources, the Implementation Commission would seek approval for devolving five more ministries - Social Welfare and Special Education, Education, Health Culture and Tourism - to the provinces from Cabinet next month. In this regard, Chairman Implementation Commission and Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Co-ordination, Mian Raza Rabbani has already said that five more ministries would be transferred to the provinces in the first week of March and this devolution process would be completed by June 30. He said that between 15 and 20 federal ministries would be transferred to the provinces in light of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.