All Coalition Partners To Be Consulted In Cabinet Expansion: Gilani

Friday, July 11, 2008 at 10:24 am

ISLAMABAD :Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the expansion in federal cabinet will be done after taking all the coalition partners on board and every coalition partner will get its due share according to their strength in the parliament.

“I want to do it as soon as possible, but we have to take all the coalition partners into confidence,” the Prime Minister told media persons aboard his special plane while returning home from Dubai.

Gilani, who attended the sixth D-8 Summit in Malaysia and undertook an un-official visit to Dubai during his four day activities abroad, told the newsmen that various positions of ministers, state ministers, parliamentary secretaries as well as the chairmanships of standing committees are to be allocated among the coalition partners according to their share and proportion in the parliament.

Prime Minister said there were no differences among the various parties in the government adding the coalition will remain intact.

He said the difference of opinion among government partners was natural as they were different parties having separate manifestos and follow their party line.

The Prime Minister, however, mentioned that all the parties were united on restoration of democracy and the strengthening democratic institutions in the country.

He said this is one point which has brought these parties together and they will remain together for the progress of the country and their common objectives.

To a question about the return of PML (N) ministers who resigned from the cabinet, he said, “I think they should make a come back.”