ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister of Pakistan was planning to expand his cabinet in a bid to thwart opposition’s plan of bringing a no-confidence move against him.
According to sources, PTI allies will be included in the cabinet especially those who are being approached by the opposition for a no-trust move against PM.
At least three new members would be added to the cabinet taking the total numbers of ministers, special assistants to the prime minister (SAPMs) and advisors to 59. It would be the largest cabinet in the history of the country, Samaa TV reported today.
At present, Imran Khan heads a 56 member cabinet, which comprises of 33 ministers, 19 SAMPs, and 4 advisers. The prime minister can also reshuffle the portfolios of a couple of ministers.
PM Khan has seven ministers and one SAPM (Shahzain Bugti) from coalition partners on his cabinet. In addition, one minister (Shaukat Tareen), four SAPMs, and one advisor are technocrats.
Pakistan Muslim League Quadi-e-Azam (PMLQ), a key coalition partner with a limited number of seats but a lot of political clout in Punjab, has been given only two ministries. The second minister from PMLQ was taken only the last year.
The proposed expansion is seen as the need of the hour. Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) leader Khurram Dastgir on Wednesday revealed that his party would offer Punjab chief ministership to PMLQ in exchange for its support to remove Imran Khan from power.
Dastagir made the statement two days after PMLN President Shehbaz Sharif met Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Chaudhry Pervez Ilahi at their Lahore residence.
