Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has decided in principle to reduce the size of his cabinet prior to Oct 13 deadline of the Supreme Court regarding NRO. According to sources, the portfolios of several ministers would be changed and those ministers whose performance is below mark would be removed.A key government personality familiar with the developments told Online that in order to make successful the austerity campaign and in view of deteriorating situation of the country Prime Minister has decided to make large scale changes in his cabinet. The PM has taken the President into confidence in this regard and soon after the return of President from Karachi the list would be given a final shape.
Sources told there is a possibility that portfolio's of Lal Kahn, Arbab Alamgir, Amin Fahim and Rana Farooq Saeed would be changed.
Some important PPP leaders have suggested to President and PM that Raza Rabbani should be given the portfolio of Law Minister and if he is unwilling than Aitzaz Ahsan should be convinced to take this responsibility.
Sources also told that Prime Minister has taken on board all coalition partners especially Maulana Fazl regarding the change in cabinet and Maulana Fazl has agreed to removal of his brother Federal Minister Tourism Atta ur Rehman however Azam Swati would remain a minister while no green signal has been given by the Maulana regarding Rehmatullah Kakar.
Sources told that ministers who are likely to be removed or given different portfolios prior to Oct 13 include Sports Minister Ijaz Jhakrani, State Minister Tasneem Qureshi, Minister for Human Rights Mumtaz Hussain Gilani, Culture Minister Pir Aftab Shah Gilani, state minister for Dairy Development , State minister for food and agriculture Rafiq Jamali, State Minister Housing Anis ur Rehman and State Information Minister Samsam Bukhari. It is expected that Faisal Abidi would take over the place of Samsam Bukhari.