NEW PAKISTAN CABINET

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001355 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PK PREL SUBJECT: NEW PAKISTAN CABINET ¶1. (U) Summary. Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Yousef Gillani March 29 received a unanimous vote of confidence from the Parliament; this gives the new government six months to move forward and tackle significant economic and terrorism challenges. Gillani then outlined the coalition government's "First 100 Days" plan. After weeks of difficult negotiations, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and its coalition partners March 28 came to an agreement on the first tranche of cabinet ministers. They expect the ministers to be sworn in on March 31. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Yousef Gillani March 29 received a unanimous vote of confidence in the Parliament. Under parliamentary rules, there cannot be another vote of confidence scheduled for six months, giving the new government some time to implement the "First 100 Days" plan that Gillani outlined to the parliament (septel). ¶3. (SBU) After weeks of difficult negotiations, on March 28 the coalition agreed to the first tranche of cabinet ministers; we expect at least one if not two additional rounds to appoint more than 40 ministers. The PM expects his cabinet to be sworn in on March 31. The PPP may make additional adjustments. The first group were apportioned in the following way: Pakistan People's Party -- Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Minister of Foreign Affairs -- Rehman Malik, Minister of Interior (at the moment "Advisor to the MOI") -- Khurshid Shah, Minister of Labor, Manpower, and Overseas Pakistanis -- Sherry Rehman, Minister of Information and Broadcasting -- Raja Pervez Ashraf, Minister of Water and Power -- Naveed Qamar, Minister of Privatization (OR Communications OR Ports and Shipping) -- Farooq Naek, Minister of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs -- Qamar Zaman Kaira, Minister of Northern Areas and Kashmir Affairs (OR Environment) -- Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister of Defense -- Nazar Gondal, Minister of Narcotics -- Babar Awan, Minister of Human Rights Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz -- Nisar Ali Khan, "Senior Minister" -- essentially Deputy Prime Minister -- Ishaq Dar, Minister of Finance -- Khwaja Mohammad Asif, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources -- Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of Defense Production -- Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Minister of Youth Affairs -- Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Education -- Sardar Mehtab Abbasi, Minister of Railways Awami National Party (ANP) (still TBC): -- Ghulam Ahmed Bilour -- either Minister of Local Government and Rural Development or Minister of Social Affairs -- Khawaja Mohammed Hoti -- either Minister of Local Government and Rural Development or Minister of Social Affairs Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F): -- Fazlur Rehman - Committee on Kashmir (minister-equivalent) ¶4. (SBU) Husain Haqqani has been appointed "Ambassador at Large" and will serve as PPP leader Asif Zardari's primary foreign policy advisor. Key as yet unfilled posts include the Attorney General and the Minister of Religious Affairs. ¶5. Biographies to follow. BODDE