Pakistan swears in coalition Govt

A 24-member coalition cabinet has been sworn in by Pakistan’s embattled President Pervez Musharraf, reports Kamal Siddiqi.

A 24-member coalition cabinet was sworn in by Pakistan’s embattled President Pervez Musharraf on Monday, with some PML-N ministers-to-be wearing black bands to protest against the head of state. This is the first time that cabinet members were sworn in wearing black bands in Pakistan.

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Political observers said that with the formation of the government after the oath, the countdown for the implementation of the Murree Declaration would begin. The declaration promises reinstatement of the deposed judges within 30 days after the formation of government.

According to the formula adopted by the ruling Pakistan Democratic Alliance, there are 11 ministers from the PPP, nine from the PML-N, two from the ANP and one each from the JUI-F and the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas.

From the PPP, the ministers are: Shah Mehmood Qureshi (Foreign Minister), Sherry Rehman (Information Minister), Syed Naveed Qamar (Minister for Privatisation), Raja Pervez Ashraf (Minister for Water and Power), Syed Khursheed Shah (Minister for Labour, Manpower and Overseas Pakistanis), Qamar Zaman Kaira (Minister for Kashmir Affairs), Senator Farooq Naik (Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights), Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar (Minister for Defence), Nazar Muhammad Gondal (Minister for Narcotics), Najamuddin Khan (Minister for States and Frontier Region) and Mir Humayon Aziz Kurd (Minister for Population Welfare).

From the ANP, the ministers are Ghulam Ahmed Bilour (Minister for Local Government and Rural Development) and Khawaja Mohammed Khan Hoti (Minister for Social Welfare) were sworn in. Rehmatullah Kakar (JUI-F) and FATA MNA Hameedullah Jan Afridi have been made federal ministers.