LAHORE: Following the swearing-in of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, talks within the Sharif camp have begun regarding the creation of a provincial cabinet.
A 20-member cabinet is anticipated to be constituted this week for the first phase.
The PPP, PML-Q, and Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP), which are also anticipated to receive ministries in the cabinet in the second phase, were in discussions with the PML-N leadership as well.
It is probable that prominent PML-N figures Rana Sanaullah, Pervaiz Rashid, and Marriyum Aurangzeb will find positions in the provincial cabinet.
Since Mr. Sanaullah and Mr. Rashid are not members of the Punjab Assembly, it is anticipated that they will be appointed as special assistants or advisers to the chief minister.
Regarded as close to PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, Mr. Sanaullah is anticipated to receive the prized portfolios of law and home. From 2013 to 2018, he was the provincial law minister during the final term of ex chief minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Later, after former prime minister Imran Khan was removed from office by a no-confidence resolution, he also held the position of interior minister during the 16-month PDM government in the Central government.
In the National Assembly election, Mr. Sanaullah ran against a candidate who was independent from his hometown of Faisalabad who was supported by the PTI, but he lost.
The portfolio that will be assigned to Mr. Rashid, a former senator and another supporter of the Sharif brothers, is unclear.
Since taking the oath on Monday, Mr. Rashid has been present at every administrative meeting presided over by Ms. Sharif.
Reports further suggest that the Sharif family might recall Mr. Rashid to the Senate; nevertheless, Nawaz Sharif will ultimately decide on this matter.
A party insider told Dawn on Tuesday, “Interestingly, both Sanaullah as well as Rashid are not on favorable terms, so in case Nawaz Sharif chooses to substitute them in Punjab to help his daughter, they are going to have to shun their egos.”
He continued by saying that Ms. Auranzeb, who was transferred to Punjab from the center to support the chief minister, would also receive a significant ministry. Azma Bokhari, the outspoken head of the party, is receiving the portfolio of the communication ministry. Both were seated in the parliament on women’s designated seats.
Bilal Yasin, a relative of Mr. Nawaz, Faisal Ayub Khokhar (son of PML-N Lahore president Saiful Malook Khokhar), Zakiya Shahnawaz, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, Manshaullah Butt, Khizar Hussain Mazari, Ashiq Karmani, Ahmad Khan Leghari, Sher Ali Gorchani, Raheela Khadim Hussain, and Sibtain Bokhari are other names circulating as potential cabinet ministers.
Legislators from the PPP, PML-Q, and IPP, who would be admitted into the government later on, might not receive any significant ministries.
