PM Khan to make ‘significant’ changes to cabinet within two weeks — spokesperson

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will make “significant” changes to the federal cabinet within two weeks, information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain has said, in what is being seen as an effort to keep the ruling coalition intact after the opposition’s announcement it would file a no confidence motion in parliament against the premier.
The chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has announced his party will launch an anti-government march to the capital from February 27, while an alliance of opposition parties, the Pakistan Democratic Movement, says it will file a no-trust motion in parliament.
The announcements have come as Khan’s government grapples with a chronic economic crisis and rising inflation as well as amid reports of strained ties with the all-powerful military.
“The prime minister will make significant changes in the federal cabinet within two weeks,” Chaudhry told Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
A source close to the prime minister told Dawn Khan would appoint five ministers of state in the ministries of defense, planning, education, energy and overseas Pakistanis. The PM has reportedly also instructed Defense Minister Pervez Khattak, Planning Minister Asad Umar, Energy Minister Hammad Azhar and Education Minister Shafqat Mehmood to handle party affairs and take steps to strengthen the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) ruling party.
“It has also been learnt that the PTI will induct leaders from its two major coalition partners — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) — who are likely to get one ministry each,” Dawn reported. “Both the parties have been requesting Mr.Khan to give them at least one more federal ministry.”