Cabinet of Imran Khan

Several small parties came together in support of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), the party led by Prime Minister Imran Khan for it win over the elections. Along with the smaller parties, the individual parties also came over and joined their hands with the party so that PTI could form a government in Pakistan. Nonetheless, now that Imran Khan won over the elections, with the rising time several names are springing up as the potential ministers for Imran Khan’s cabinet.

The first name to spring up is Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the vice-chairman of PTI. It is being contemplated that eh may either be the interior minister or the foreign minister. Qureshi’s father was the former governor of Punjab. He had also served as the foreign minister for Pakistan under the Pakistan People’ Party government. Qureshi belongs to the powerful and strong gentry from Punjab. He is also one of the spiritual leaders of one of the prominent shrines in Multan.

Shireen Mazari, an old member of PTI who is regarded to be in close affinity to the military establishment is also considered to be one of the essential contenders for the seat of foreign minister. Mazari was previous working as an editor in an English daily which focused on the strategy issues and defence. She was also the head of the think tank Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad for many years. She is popular about her stance towards India.

It is likely that Senator Shafqat Mehmood will become the defence minister as per the statements of the officials of PTI. Since he was related to bureaucracy, there are also possibilities that he might become the interior minister. Nonetheless, the decision is upon Mehmood to choose his post.

Asad Umar is being considered as a potential candidate for finance minister. He is the son of Maj Gen Ghulam Umar. Umar previously worked as an CEO for Engro Corporation, the first multinational company of Pakistan. He is the only candidate till now whose name Imran Khan has called out for the ministerial post.

The potential candidates for the Speaker of National Assembly may likely be given to Arif Alvi or Shafqat Mahmood. Zartaj Gul Wazir or any member from the coalition party will be given the post of deputy speaker.

Fawad Chaudhary, the spokesperson of PTI is being considered as the candidate for information minister. He is also being regarded as the Chief minister of Punjab. There are proposals coming up to cease information ministry and include it within information minister.

Pervez Khattak, the former chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will be offered a seat as one of the centers of cabinet advisor. There are possibilities that northwestern Province will be receiving a new face altogether. There are possibilities that Atif Khan may become the chief minister.

Not only these, several new faces have sprung up too, and women may also be a part of Khan’s cabinet. There are possibilities that the new cabinet will have a Sikh (minority community) minister. Sardar Suran Singh, a member of PTI was shot during the 2016 Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa assembly. It is being anticipated that one of his family members may be taking over the seat as an advisor.

The coalition parties will also become a part of the cabinet. Some of the potential candidates include Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed from Awami Muslim League (AML). He may become the railways minister. AML managed to secure only one seat in the elections, but since AML has been one of the oldest allies for PTI, they have maintained their high standard. He is also in close relation to the military.

Apart from AML, MQM-Pakistan may also be interested for the portfolio of shipping and ports. Grand Democratic Alliance may look after the matters of agriculture and food.

It is being anticipated that PTI would release its confirmation regarding the cabinet ministers by the week. After declaring the names, the number of members would significantly be grouped as per the statement of PTI spokesperson, Fawad Chaudhary.