Recently, Bilawal Bhutto had a meeting with Shahbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House – File Photo
Islamabad: The final stages of negotiations regarding the division of ministries between the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are underway, and there is a possibility of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari returning as Foreign Minister.
According to sources familiar with the ongoing negotiations between the PML-N and PPP, a power-sharing agreement between both parties is close to being finalized, which could result in Bilawal Bhutto Zardari becoming Foreign Minister once again.
It has been revealed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is likely to be part of Shahbaz Sharif’s cabinet, and an agreement was reached between the leadership of both parties during recent negotiations.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had previously resisted taking up a ministry, but now both parties are working on the details and timing of PPP’s inclusion in the cabinet.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif wants PPP to be included in the cabinet before the budget presentation in the first week of June, but it is not yet clear whether PPP will become part of the cabinet before the budget or not. However, it is clear that PPP will be included in the cabinet in June.
Previously, the PML-N had offered the position of Deputy Prime Minister to Ishaq Dar, allowing Bilawal Bhutto to take over the Foreign Ministry. According to informed sources, Ishaq Dar’s office will be established in the Prime Minister’s Office, and after Bilawal Bhutto Zardari resigns from the position of Foreign Minister, he will work in the Prime Minister’s Office.
It is reported that Ishaq Dar was not pleased with the position of Foreign Minister, as he had always been the Finance Minister, but Shahbaz Sharif and other leaders of the PML-N did not want that.
On the other hand, within PPP, it is believed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari established himself at the national and international level as Foreign Minister during the 16-month government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
It is believed that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s return to the Foreign Ministry will benefit him and the party, but the final decision on inclusion in the federal cabinet will be made by the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
It is worth mentioning that after the elections on February 8, PPP had decided to cooperate with PML-N in forming a government in the federation, but had initially rejected joining the cabinet. However, both parties had agreed that PPP would take ministries later.
PML-N fulfilled its promise by giving PPP the opportunity to appoint its governors in three provinces, in addition to giving them the constitutional positions of president and Senate chairman, and now PPP will be part of the cabinet in exchange.
Foreign Ministry sources have stated that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is a good choice because he proved himself capable as Foreign Minister during the 16-month period before the elections.