ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet was expanded here yesterday with the induction of four more ministers. Two ministers were taken from Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Babar Ghauri and Farooq Sattar. Two ministers were drawn from Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Sen. Azam Swati and Maulana Ataur Rahman.
With the induction of 4 more ministers the strength of the federal Cabinet has risen to 59. President Asif Ali Zardari administered the oath of office to new ministers.
Earlier yesterday, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had said the expansion in the Cabinet was being undertaken to ensure political stability and giving representation to the political parties.
He said no one criticized when advisers and consultants were appointed but when somebody is made a “poor” minister everyone points fingers at it although a minister’s pay is less than that of a member of the National Assembly.
He said investigation into the Mumbai attacks is still under way and the people will be informed about the findings when it is completed.
Gilani also said here yesterday that “we have asked the new US administration in categorical terms to halt drone attacks inside Pakistan.” Talking to reporters here after the inaugurating an education ceremony, he said “we are cooperating with the United States in global war against terror but we are not prepared to accept drone attacks inside Pakistan as a regular feature.”
In another development, the leader of the House in Senate, Mian Raza Rabbani, said the US had carried out 32 drones’ attacks so far in Pakistan. Speaking in the Senate, Rabbani hoped that Barack Obama would not repeat the mistakes made by the previous US administration.
“We are devising a policy with regard to drones’ strikes, however, we have to work under some limits,” he said. In reference to Pakistan’s next move regarding India’s Mumbai attacks dossier and suggested actions, he said “we are making our own investigations and we will let the world community know about our findings. We have taken necessary actions against outlawed religious organizations and we will clean our house first before going for an international action.”
