Six-member caretaker Cabinet takes oath

ISLAMABAD:  President Mamnoon Hussain on Tuesday administered oath to six members of the caretaker Cabinet at the President House.

Caretaker Prime Minister justice (retd) Nasirul Mulk also flanked alongside President Mamnoon during the oath-taking ceremony. The interim cabinet took oath after the PML-N government completed its five-year constitutional term last month.

The ministers who have been inducted into the new cabinet are:  Muhammad Yousuf Sheikh, Syed Ali Zafar, Roshan Khurshid Barocha, Abullah Hussain Haroon, Muhammad Azam Khan and Shamshad Akhtar.

According to reports, Akhtar who has been a former governor of the State Bank, is expected to assume the charge of federal finance ministry, while Haroon will likely be given the portfolio of foreign minister.  Khan will likely to be given Ministry of Interior, while Zafar is expected to be appointed federal law minister, Khurshid as education minister and Yousaf as information minister.

Justice (retired) Nasirul Mulk on June 1 took oath as caretaker prime minister of Pakistan. He was administered oath of office by President Mamnoon Hussain at a ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Following the ceremony, PM Nasirul Mulk received a guard of honour and formally assumed his charge.

The caretaker premier, while speaking to journalists after taking oath, said the cabinet members will be announced after consultation. He added that the cabinet would be concise as a few members would be appointed.

When asked about elections, PM Mulk said they will make sure elections are held on time and in a transparent manner, and will act within their mandate and the responsibility they have been given.