ISLAMABAD: In order to accommodate more Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz loyalists, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has decided to induct four more members into his cabinet — a federal minister and three ministers of state.

The new ministers, who are scheduled to take the oath on Thursday, are MNAs Daniyal Aziz from Narowal, Mumtaz Ahmed Tarar from Mandi Bahauddin, Mir Dostain Khan Domki from Balochistan and Syed Ayaz Ali Sherazi from Thatta.

According to the presidency, the new ministers will take oath at 2.45pm.

Mr Aziz is likely to be appointed the federal minister for privatisation. He did not attend the first oath-taking ceremony amid media reports that he was being made a minister of state and he had refused to accept it because he was eyeing a federal ministry.

It was learnt that he had also been offered the ministry of science and technology but he had refused to accept it.

Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, who took oath last week, was also offered the ministry of science and technology but he declined.

Mr Tarar, Mr Domki and Mr Sherazi are likely to become ministers of state.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2017