Reshuffling of Ministries, A Big Change in Political Landscape

 

Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan on 12 December 2020 2020 (Friday) has changed portfolios of his cabinet members during which he has appointed Sheikh Rasheed as Federal Interior Minister.

While Azam Swati has been given portfolio of Railway in replace of Shiekh Rasheed, who was before appointed as Minister of Narcotics.

In this reshuffling of ministries, Prime Minister has appointed Brig (Retd) Ijaz Shah as Minister for Narcotics Control who was earlier performing as Interior Minister.

Moreover, PM appointed Abdul Hafeez Shaikh as Finance Minister who was before performing as Adviser on Finance. Yet, he had taken oath as a federal minister earlier in the day.

This reshuffling was confirmed by Senator and a close aide of Imran Khan Faisal Javed through twitter.

Earlier on 11 December 2020, Abdul Hafeez Shaikh took oath as federal minister and President Arif Alvi administered oath to new federal minister at President House.

The former adviser was eminent as a federal minister after IHC’s (Islamabad High Court) judgment on addition of advisors and special assistants in cabinet committees.

Abdul Hafeez Sheikh was made federal minister under section Article 91(9) of Constitution. This clause grants powers to Prime Minister for appointing unelected individuals as ministers for six months.

But, the Constitution discloses such appointed individual will cease on completion of six months, and that individual shall not be appointed as minister again before dissolution of assembly unless elected as member of assembly.

Prime Minister has reorganized federal cabinet three times before this, since its establishment. During Apr 2019, first major reshuffling was done, even less than a one year completion during which, Abdul Hafeez Sheikh was appointed Adviser to prime minister on finance after resignation of Asad Umar as finance minister. The government had also appointed Shah as Interior Minister and Firdous Ashiq Awan as Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Information and Broadcasting.

Second shuffling was done in November 2019, in which Asad Umar was took back to in Federal Cabinet on as Planning Minister, whereas, Khusro Bakhtiar was appointed as Minister for Economic affairs. This reshuffling was done two days after FIA (Federal Investigation Agency) discovered reports on sugar crisis and beneficiaries of subsidies acquired by the industry's key players, in which Khusroo Bakhtiar, then minister for national food security, was named as a beneficiary.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister of Pakistan had removed Firdious Ashiq Awan as special assistant and appointed Lt Gen (Retired) Asim Saleem Bajwa in her place. Moreover, Shibli Faraz took over the charge of Information Minister.

Political observers are viewing that handing over of important ministry to Sheikh Rasheed is an important change in politics. Observers say that Sheikh Rashid can create problems for the opposition coalition, Pakistan Democratic Movement's anti-government movement.

Political analyst and journalist Sohail Warraich says that Sheikh Rashid's appointment as interior minister comes at a time when Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of opposition parties, is gaining momentum. Appointment of Sheikh Rashid could lead to changes in political landscape.

Talking to Voice of America, Sohail Warraich said that Sheikh Rashid would be the best Home Minister as well as spokesperson of the government, as his rhetoric and dialogue is very important for government. Sheikh Rashid's ability to respond PDM movement and his statement will be beneficial to the government.

The opposition is of the view that giving the appointment of such ministry to Sheikh Rashid, who is responsible for many deaths in train accidents, is a question mark on performance of the government.