Punjab cabinet: PPP finalises names for minister, adviser slots

LAHORE: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has finalised names for the minister and adviser slots in the Punjab cabinet, citing sources, ARY News reported on Saturday.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is expected to forward the names of Mumtaz Chang, Makhdoom Usman Mahmood and Shazia Abid for their inclusion in the Punjab cabinet as ministers, sources told ARY News.

For the positions of advisers to the Punjab chief minister, the political party suggested two names including Rana Farooq Saeed and Shahzad Saeed Cheema.

READ: ASIF ALI ZARDARI, CM HAMZA AGREE TO JOINTLY CONTEST PUNJAB BY-POLLS

In May, it was learnt that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) decided to form a small cabinet in Punjab in two phases besides also likely giving the speaker Punjab Assembly’s slot to Jahangir Tareen’s group.

PML-N had decided to retain provincial ministers who had performed well during its last tenure in the Punjab cabinet and give them the same portfolios.

Later on May 31, Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz’s eight-member cabinet had taken oath in a ceremony held at Governor’s House. Newly-appointed Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman had administrated the oath to provincial ministers.

READ: MONEY LAUNDERING CASE: COURT EXTENDS BAIL PLEAS OF PM, CM PUNJAB

CM Hamza Shahbaz was also present at the oath-taking ceremony. Rana Muhammad Iqbal, Ata Tarar, Ali Haider Gilani and Awais Leghari were among those who were sworn in. Salman Rafique, Malik Ahmad Khan, Hassan Murtaza and Bilal Asghar had also taken the oath.

PPP leader Hassan Murtaza had become a senior minister while Khawaja Salman Rafique was given the portfolio of Health Minister, and Awais Leghari was given the portfolio of Local Government Minister.