ALI HUSSAIN

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Wednesday said the new federal cabinet will take oath in a day or two, as the scheduled oath-taking ceremony of the new cabinet members was postponed due to inconclusive consultation process.

Talking to reporters after a consultative meeting of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leadership, Abbasi vowed that policies of the PML-N government would remain unchanged, adding the prime minister can be changed but the policies will remain unaffected.

The meeting which was held in Murree and attended by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif and other senior party leaders including Khawaja Asif and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan deliberated on finalizing the new cabinet.

“Today, we held a meeting with Nawaz Sharif who congratulated the parliamentary party for its unity and bringing the democratic process back on track within four days and that too with a thumping majority,” the Prime Minister said.

“He [Nawaz Sharif] also instructed us that the policies that are already in place must remain unchanged, especially the projects under the CPEC, and power projects should be acted upon quickly than their scheduled dates so that we can show to the world that prime minister can be changed in the country but the policies remain the same,” he added.

He said that consultations were also held on formation of the new federal cabinet and the cabinet will take oath in the next one or two days.

To a question about portfolios of the federal cabinet, he said that no final decision has been made and the consultation process will continue for another one-and-a-half days.

Responding to a query whether or not former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan would be part of the upcoming cabinet, he declined to make any comment, saying he has already stated that consultations were continuing on formation of the cabinet.

“This is a decision which could be made by us and he [Nisar] himself…it’s a mutual consultation process and after that the process of formation of the cabinet will be completed,” he added. Answering a question whether he would follow his predecessor to keep the portfolio of Foreign Minister with him or somebody else would be given the responsibility, he said: “Everything will be cleared once the formation of the cabinet is concluded.”

Abbasi said the meeting also discussed the upcoming bye-election on NA-120 left vacant by Nawaz Sharif, adding the PML-N will not only retake the seat with majority but will also succeed against future political challenges.

When asked whether any candidate has been finalized to run from NA-120, he said that deliberations to finalize a candidate are continuing.

To another question about his protocol as prime minister, he said he is not taking the protocol but the security is needed for any person holding the office of the prime minister.

The oath-taking ceremony of new cabinet, which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday at 5:30pm in the President House, could not be held as the names of cabinet members were not finalized.

However, sources said the new cabinet would mostly consist of the members who had served in the Nawaz Sharif’s cabinet, adding efforts are also underway to persuade Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to retake his previous portfolio.

In case Nisar does not retake the portfolio of Minister for Interior, his portfolio will most likely be given either to Lt-Gen Abdul Qadir Baloch (retd) or Lt-Gen Abdul Qayyum (retd). The sources further said there were also deliberations to assign someone as foreign minister.

Reportedly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar have shown interest to hold the portfolio of minister for foreign affairs while former adviser to foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz has also expressed keenness to continue as adviser.

As the meeting concluded, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was greeted by party workers who were chanting slogans in his support. Sharif also responded with complements and appreciations. “My heart beats with you…I will emerge clean before Allah Almighty,” said the former Prime Minister who was disqualified by Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case last week.

Before Nawaz Sharif leaves for Lahore, he will remain in Murree till finalization of the federal cabinet.