Cabinet oath-taking delayed as consultations continue in Murree

ISLAMABAD: The oath-taking of the federal cabinet on Wednesday was delayed after the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) failed to finalise the allocation of ministries. 

Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi's cabinet was expected to be sworn-in at the Presidency at 5:30pm today but the event was delayed, according to sources.

Nawaz Sharif is chairing a high-level meeting of senior PML-N leaders in Murree.

Abbasi, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar, Ahsan Iqbal, Mehtab Abbasi and Pervez Rasheed, Khawaja Saad Rafique and Khawaja Asif, along with other senior members, are attending the meeting.

Sources said a decision regarding the allocation of ministerial portfolios could not be finalised in time for the oath-taking.

At the start of the meeting, Nawaz exchanged pleasantries with Abbasi. The new prime minister thanked the party leader and his predecessor for his support. 

Contemporary political developments and formation of the new federal cabinet are being discussed in the meeting, according to sources. The meeting will also decide on the advisers and special assistants of the new premier. 

The federal cabinet is expected to retain a majority of the members on the same posts that were part of Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet. 

Abbasi, too, was serving as the petroleum minister in Sharif’s cabinet till last Friday.

Sources said former States and Frontier Regions minister Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch may be given the interior ministry portfolio. while Nisar is expected to be given the post of foreign minister, according to sources.

However, sources had claimed earlier that Nisar will not be a part of the new cabinet. 

Nawaz has been camped in Murree after vacating the PM House this weekend following his disqualification as prime minister by the Supreme Court.