The federal capital is abuzz with rumours that the entire cabinet will tender its resignation to the Prime Minister within a month and the changes would be PPP-specific, while the coalition partners would retain their ministries. The reshuffle of the cabinet will take place as strength of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in the Upper House of the parliament after the Senate election has gone up to 42.
According to sources, former Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira may get his previous ministerial post of Information and Broadcasting while Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar may attain the Ministry of Commerce whereas Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim might take the slot of Defence Minister after cabinet reshuffle.
The source further said that former Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Nazar Muhammad Gondal was likely to become Minister of Information and Technology. The source said the Party was also considering former minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf for any cabinet slot.
About the coalition partners, Awami National Party (ANP) has strengthened its presence in Senate and emerged as the third largest party in the Upper House of Parliament. The sources said the ANP leadership believed it was its right to have better share in the federal cabinet and in standing committees of Senate. The ANP has 12 senators as seven including one from Balochistan and six from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa made it to the Senate in the elections on March 2.
Senator Afrasiab Khattak, president of the party's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, could be the most appropriate candidate for a berth federal cabinet. However, he is holding a party office and according to the ANP policy, an office-bearer of the party cannot hold a ministerial position. For becoming minister, Afrasiab has to resign from the provincial president-ship of the party, which seems unlikely.
Senator Haji Mohammad Adeel, who is senior vice-president of the party and a seasoned parliamentarian, can also be a choice. Senator-elect Azam Khan Hoti, father of Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and brother-in-law of ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, is also a strong candidate for a place in the federal cabinet.
About Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), sources said that those parties might retain their ministries. Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani and Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan have already hinted at the reshuffle of the federal cabinet. However, the sources said the final decision would be taken in a high level meeting of PPP and its coalition partners. In this regard, the meeting would soon be in the Presidency.