ISLAMABAD, June 21: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and ruling Pakistan Muslim League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Monday discussed probable names for induction into the cabinet.

They agreed to reshuffle portfolios of some of the ministers on the basis of their performance, official sources told Dawn. The prime minister visited the residence of Mr Shujaat and held a two-hour meeting with him during which they discussed a host of issues, including reports circulating in the capital of an imminent government change.

The younger brother of the party president, Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, MNA, was present during the meeting. The two leaders agreed to make suitable changes/replacements in the portfolios of certain ministers on the basis of their performance and induct better persons in their place.

With regard to doubts being expressed about the future of Mr Jamali's government, it was agreed that the parliamentary party will be taken into confidence on all matters and the premier will initiate a series of meetings with parliamentarians.

Talking to official electronic media after the meeting, Mr Jamali confirmed that he had discussed with Mr Shujaat the overall political situation as well as matters pertaining to the ongoing budget session of the National Assembly.

He said that he had also discussed with the party president the planned expansion and reshuffle in his cabinet soon after the budget session. Mr Jamali, who has summoned the parliamentary party meeting of the PML at parliament house on Tuesday morning, assured Mr Shujaat that the budget 2004-2005 will be passed without any problem.