Shehbaz Sharif meets Nawaz Sharif, consider names for federal cabinet

LAHORE, Feb 14 (SABAH): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held meeting with PML-N Quaid and former prime ministers Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday.

Shehbaz Sharif briefed Nawaz Sharif about the meetings with the coalition partners. During the meeting they also discussed the names for the federal cabinet.

According to sources, after formation of the government, a 25-member federal cabinet is likely to be formed. It is likely that the MQM-Pakistan will get three to five ministries.

Meanwhile, the MQM-Pakistan is considering the names of Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Dr. Farooq Sattar, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Syed Aminul Haque and Khawaja Izharul Hasan for ministries.

Sources said the names of 15 senior leaders were being considered for the federal cabinet by the PML-N. They include Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal Chaudhry, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar Advocate and Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

The names of Chaudhry Riazul Haq Judge, Bilal Azhar Kayani, Sardar Owais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Engineer Raja Qamarul Islam and Rana Tanveer Hussain are also being considered for the federal cabinet.

It may be recalled that the PML-N on Tuesday nominated Shehbaz as its candidate for the prime minister slot and Maryam Nawaz for the office of Punjab chief minister.

The final announcement regarding the prime ministerial candidate will be coordinated with allied parties. Party chief Nawaz Sharif has endorsed both Shehbaz and Maryam for the coveted slots.