President Zardari to swear in new cabinet

ISLAMABAD: The oath taking ceremony of new cabinet would take place at the President House here on Friday.

Sources said that the cabinet line-up includes Senator Ishaq Dar, Chaudhry Nisar, Khuwaja Asif, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pervez Rashid and Tariq Fatmi.

The sources said that the aforesaid PML-N leaders have been informed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about their portfolios. The sources said that Ishaq Dar, Chudhry Nisar, Khuwaja Asif, Khaqan Abbasi, Pervez Rashid and Tariq Fatmi would take charge of Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Water and Power, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Advisor to the prime minister on Foreign Affairs respectively.

Uncertainty about their portfolios among the other potential cabinet members was visible as the newly elected prime minister didn’t consult even senior leaders of the party over this important issue this time around.

When contacted, a PML-N leader said that Mr Sharif had taken the decision without keeping in view liking and disliking of cabinet members for portfolios.

Other members in the cabinet line-up include Zahid Hamid, Ahsan Iqbal Khuwaja Saad Rafique, Rana Tanveer, Raja Zafarul Haq, Khurram Dastagir, Balighur Rehmanm Sardar Yousuf, Kamran Micheal, Abdul Qadir Baloch, Saira Afzal Tarar, Sadruddin Rashidi and Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi.

President Asif Ali Zardari would administer oath to the cabinet members. The prime minister would also be present on the occasion.