ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet, which is scheduled to meet on Tuesday (today) with Prime Minister, Imran Khan in the chair will discuss the country's "complicated" political situation in the light of two recent public gatherings organized by Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) - in Gujranwala and Karachi - and the government's counter strategy.

Well-informed sources told Business Recorder that Prime Minister is expected to seek opinions of his cabinet colleagues to deal with the situation commonly referred to as Establishment and judiciary.

Interior Minister, Brig. Syed Ijaz Shah (retd), has already indicated he would suggest the Prime Minister to proceed against former Prime Ministe, Nawaz Sharif for his defamatory speech in Gujranwala. Other Ministers like Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Ghulam Sarwar Khan and Karachi-based cabinet members' are pressing Prime Minister to adopt a hard line against the opposition.

PTI's Karachi-based group, sources said, argues that the party should also start public gatherings in big cities to expose the opposition as so far the government's narrative is being compromised due to high inflation in the country.

The cabinet will also discuss a strategy for the next public gathering of opposition parties in Quetta and the provincial government would be asked to deal with political opponents with an iron hand.

The sources said cabinet will also discuss country's economic situation, inflation, supply of goods, update on import of wheat and sugar and other related issues. The cabinet will be briefed about measures taken to improve the supply position.

Secretary Cabinet, Sardar Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera, will update the cabinet on the implementation status of decisions taken in the past. The Secretaries of different Ministries will brief the cabinet about those decisions which are already implemented or are under implementation.

Other items of agenda are as follows: (i) ratification of decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Institutional Reforms (CCIR) in its meeting held on October 7, 2020; and (ii) ratification of the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet held on October 14, 2020. The sources said it is expected that some additional agenda items will be tabled during the cabinet meeting with the permission of Chairman/ Prime Minister as always.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020