Islamabad, Feb. 7: Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Yousaf Raza Gilani, has invited arch-rival, Mr Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) to join his new Cabinet, which is likely to be formed in the next few days.
The Prime Minister will dissolve his current Cabinet before forming a much smaller team. Sources told this newspaper that he will retain or appoint only those with a good reputation and a clean record.
“The Prime Minister talked to the PML(N) leadership and invited them to join the new Cabinet. He plans to meet Mr Nawaz Sharif and Mr Shahbaz Sharif (PML-N chief and deputy chief respectively),” an official Mr Gilani said.
Mr Gilani is learnt to have assured the Sharif brothers that the PML(N)’s 10-point agenda would be adopted by the government. The official said while the PML(N) had not yet responded positively to the Prime Minister, its leaders promised support on matters in the national interest.
Speaking to reporters , Mr Gilani said it was high time politicians shunned their differences. “We are friends, not masters; we will work seriously for implementation of the 10-point agenda, no one should doubt our intentions,” he said. The size of the Cabinet would be reduced and ministers’ performance will be reviewed, he added.
On the invitation to the PML(N) to rejoin the Cabinet, the Prime Minister said: “Our doors are open to them.” He added: “I am also in contact with the MQM chief, Mr Altaf Hussain and the JUI-F leader, Mr Maulana Fazlur Rehman.”