Coalition partners finalize modalities for next cabinet

ISLAMABAD, Mar 18 (APS): As nomination of premiership candidate is expected within a few days, the PPP-led coalition partners have finalized the formula for distribution of cabinet slots among themselves.
A joint committee of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N), Awami National Party (ANP) and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI-F) continued meetings on Tuesday to draw-up an agreement for power-sharing.
Briefing the media om decision of the meeting, PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar said that all the coalition partners have already completed the homework for power-sharing and an announcement is expected soon.
“We have finalised the modalities for cabinet and committee of every party would now present it before it’s leadership for approval,” he said.
“When PPP will announce the candidate for the prime minister next week, it would comprise names of ministers and their portfolios,” he added.
Another PML-N leader Ishaq Dar also endorsed Chaudhry Nisar’s statement, saying “there is nothing pending now.”
Central Information Secretary of PPP, Sherry Rahman said that the coalition partners would hold more meetings to maintain the confidence and mutual trust among themelves.
She said Pakistan People’s Party would give same respect to the coalition partners and a mutual consensus would always be evolved before taking important decisions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party will get 20 out of 40 cabinet slots under the formula of parties’ ratio in the National Assembly.
According to sources PPP and PML-N had already agreed on distribution of cabinet slots however the formula was revised after ANP and JUI-F entered the future government scenario camp.
“Under the revised formula PPP will get 20 out of 40 cabinet slots, while, PML-N would be given 13 ministries .
The source said three ministries are to be given to ANP, JUI-F is to have two and FATA will get one respectively JUI-F and FATA would be given three, two and one ministries respectively”. .