With Pakistan’s new Premier Yousuf Raza Gillani set to seek a trust vote on Saturday, PPP and PML-N are trying to iron out differences over allocation of “strategic” ministries so that the first group of his Cabinet colleagues can be sworn-in the same day.
During a series of meetings held in the last two weeks, the two coalition parties have agreed to allocate berths in the Cabinet in proportion to the seats held by them and their allies in the two houses of Parliament.
However, there are still differences between them over the allocation of key ministries like Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior.
PPP on Tuesday submitted a resolution to the National Assembly Secretariat for summoning a session of the lower house of Parliament in the morning of March 29 for Gillani to seek a vote of confidence. Sources in the PPP and PML-N said the first batch of ministers is expected to take oath later the same day.
“The announcement of the Cabinet is not expected before the vote of confidence,” PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said.
He acknowledged that there were still “some issues that needed to be resolved” between PPP and PML-N over the Cabinet formation.
Sources said differences between the PPP and PML-N over “strategic” ministries like interior, defence, finance, foreign affairs and information were the main reason behind the delay in the announcement of the Cabinet.
They said both parties were eyeing the Foreign Affairs Ministry and were equally reluctant about taking up the Finance Ministry in view of the heightened expectations of the people that the new government will tackle the economic problems facing Pakistan.