Prime Minister Imran Khan has reshuffled his cabinet for the third time in the past two years. The move was expected as many unelected officials were expected to receive cabinet positions.
As expected Hafeez Shaikh has been sworn in as Finance Minister. The decision to appoint an unelected official as a federal minister is not unusual but will raise questions. The PML-N government had appointed Miftah Ismail in its last days to present the budget. The PTI government could not risk losing Shaikh as he heads fours cabinet committees and oversees the economic recovery programme initiated under the IMF.
The decision comes after the Islamabad High Court issued a ruling that adviser and special assistants could not head committee meeting. Several other particularly Commerce Adviser AbdurRazaqDaudand SAPM on healthcare Faisal Sultan are expected to be appointed as federal ministers. The government will have to get them elected possibly in the upcoming Senate elections to retain them.
The biggest surprise of the cabinet shuffle was Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed receiving the influential Interior Ministry. This comes as the opposition is also leading a movement calling for Imran Khan’s ouster. The PDM is set to hold a massive rally in Lahore this weekend and has announced to resign from the assemblies. This has increased Sheikh Rasheed’s role as the government will have to deal with the PDM in the coming days.
The government has decided to allow the PDM to hold its rally in Lahore. Now the attention has turned whether it makes its final decision to resign. The opposition has vowed not to set back off from its decision and make the ultimate sacrifice to topple the PTI government. The opposition has asked lawmakers to submit their resignation by December 31 but only a few have trickled in and no party stalwart has yet submitted his resignation.
Sheikh Rasheed seems to have appointed at the right time. He is known for his lengthy media addresses having previously served as information minister and is likely to raise the rhetoric against the PDM. If the PDM hold any backdoor talks or accepts the dialogue offer, he will certainly have a pivotal role. In case, there is a crackdown or arrests then Sheikh Rasheed will be the one pulling the shots. It needs to be seen how he deals with the situation but the premier will be confident he has the right man for the task.
