Gilani to seek Assembly trust vote

Sherry Rehman, who is tipped for the post of information minister in the PPP-led coalition government, told reporters the federal cabinet would be announced after the confidence vote.

PPP and PML-N teams held another round of talks yesterday on distribution of ministries among the coalition partners including the Awami National Party, Jamiat Ulema and a group of lawmakers from the federally administered tribal areas.

Rehman said the talks had made good progress and the matters would be finalised ahead of the weekend session of the lower house of the parliament.

She indicated that around 22 ministers would be appointed in the first phase, with the coalition components getting a share in proportion to their strength in the assembly.

The PPP with 120 seats is the largest in the assembly followed by the 90-seat PML-N of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Sources said the PPP was likely to get foreign affairs; defence, information and the PML-N finance and other ministries.

The Awami National Party is expected to get water and power ministry and the other junior partner, Jamiat Ulema Islam the ministry of religious affairs.

Showdown

Prime Minister Gilani of the PPP was sworn into office by President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday, a day after his election by a majority of well over two-third of the members of the National Assembly.

In his first order issued from the floor of the assembly after his election, Gilani ordered the release from house detention of former chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and some detained judges out of dozens sacked by Musharraf in November last year.

The two coalition giants have pledged to restore the sacked judges through a parliamentary resolution within a month after the formation of the government.

The issue is seen as having the potential of triggering a showdown between a president facing an uncertain future and the new parliament.

Email this article

Printer-Friendly version

Email the Editor

Bookmark this article