ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement finally became part of the ruling alliance at the centre after two of its members were inducted into the federal cabinet on Monday. Two members from the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F were also included in the cabinet.

The new ministers are: Dr Farooq Sattar and Babar Khan Ghauri, of the MQM, and Maulana Attaur Rehman and Mohammad Azam Khan Swati, of the JUI-F.

President Asif Ali Zardari administered oath to the new ministers at the Aiwan-i-Sadr.

It was the third cabinet expansion since the PPP-led coalition came to power in March. With the new induction, the number of ministers in the federal cabinet has risen to 59.

Farooq Sattar has been given the ministry of overseas Pakistanis, Babar Ghauri the ministry of ports and shipping, Attaur Rehman the ministry of science and Azam Swati the tourism ministry.

Ahmed Ali, of the MQM, was named chairman of the Trade and Industrial Board.

In the lead-up to the oath-taking, the capital was rife with speculations that the MQM would be given three ministries. Sources said some more MQM legislators were likely to be inducted soon.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Senate Chairman Mohammadmian Soomro, National Assembly Speaker Dr Fehmida Mirza, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, federal ministers and parliamentarians.

Babar Ghauri told reporters after taking oath that current economic and security challenges demanded joint efforts and unity among political forces and the MQM had joined the federal cabinet to meet these challenges.—Syed Irfan Raza