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Ministers ‘kept in the dark’ about reshuffle

By Shehzad Raza

ISLAMABAD: Several federal ministers were kept in the dark about the cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday and did not know their fate until the last minute, sources in the ruling coalition told Daily Times.

Many of them were trying to contact President General Pervez Musharraf or Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz late on Monday night, but their calls were not answered, the sources said.

The decision about two federal ministers was taken just a couple of hours before the ministers were sworn in, said the sources.

“Had I got the chance to speak to the president, I would have persuaded him not to change my portfolio,” the sources quoted one senior minister as saying.

The sources said the Rao Sikander Iqbal-led Pakistan People’s Party, a government ally, would be angry at the cabinet appointment of Khalid Lund, who recently defected from the party to the ruling Pakistan Muslim League. The Rao-led PPP sees his appointment as a reward for joining the PML, the sources said.

The Rao-led PPP is also unhappy with the change in portfolio of Faisal Saleh Hayat, who is secretary general of the party, said the sources. The party leadership believes Hayat is being targeted because top PML leaders have grievances against him, the sources said.

The Rao-led PPP also wanted Tahirkheli to become minister of state for the interior, but the PML managed to get Warraich, one of the closest aides to its top leaders, appointed to the post.

The Muttahida Quami Movement, another government ally, did not get its wish for one of its members to be put in charge of the railways ministry. President General Pervez Musharraf administered oath to the ministers. The prime minister later hosted a lunch for his cabinet and asked them to work with honesty and dedication. He said the cabinet reshuffle was in the best national interest.

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