PML-N to return to Pakistan federal cabinet

The PML-N which withdrew its ministers from the federal cabinet in May, will rejoin the coalition Govt soon, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party said.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which withdrew its ministers from the federal cabinet in May, will rejoin the coalition government soon, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has said.

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"PML-N colleagues will rejoin the cabinet as their resignations have not been accepted. They will also accept their share in the expansion of federal cabinet," spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn TV channel Friday.

The PML-N emerged as the second largest party in parliament after the February 18 general elections followed by the PML-N, led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the two together herded a coalition government in March.

But Sharif's party withdrew its nine ministers from the cabinet in May after the PPP-led government failed to meet deadlines for reinstating the judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf under an emergency rule last year.

After the resignation of PML-N ministers, 41 federal ministries were mostly distributed among PPP ministers.

An expansion and reshuffling of the federal cabinet is on the cards for sometime to improve governance and stop unrest in the party ranks.

"The formal announcement (of the expansion) would be made within the next few days," said Babar.

The PPP spokesman did not say whether the coalition partners have reached a consensus on the judges' issue.

The PML-N has insisted it would rejoin the cabinet only if the judges are restored unconditionally through a parliamentary resolution or an executive order, while the PPP preferred to link the reinstatement of judges with a constitutional package.