ISLAMABAD, May 24: The federal cabinet is likely to be expanded after the return of Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali returns from Saudi Arabia, sources said here on Monday.

The expansion, promised by Prime Minister Jamali at the time of oath taking of the first batch of the cabinet, had been postponed a number of times during the past year-and-a-half for a number of reasons, including political exigencies and differences over the list of probable candidates.

The decision regarding the induction of a dozen ministers and ministers of state was taken during a meeting between the prime minister, Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Punjab Chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi a few hours before Mr Jamali left for Saudi Arabia on Sunday, sources said.

Sources close to the PML president said that Mr Jamali had agreed to induct a few ministers and ministers of state from the recently merged former Muslim League factions and the three-party National Alliance in addition to the list of names to adjust some of their legislators.

While chief of the PML-Z Ijazul Haq had already been sworn in as the religious affairs minister, a decision has been made to induct Senator Abdul Razzaq Thaheem, a close aide of Pir Pagaro, and Rubina Wattoo, daughter of Mian Manzoor Wattoo, chief of the PML (Jinnah group), as ministers of state.

Hamid Nasir Chattha, head of the PML-J faction, is tipped to be made chairman of the Kashmir Committee. A few members of the Senate and the National Assembly may be accommodated in house committees, sources said.

While political circles wonder about the position to be given to former president Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari, the former secretary-general of his National Alliance, Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani, is likely to be accommodated in the cabinet if he is not adjusted in party offices, sources said.