MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 24: AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat on Wednesday allotted portfolios to 19 members of his cabinet.

The allotment of portfolios, deemed as a contentious issue for the prime minister in the wake of grouping in the Muslim Conference parliamentary party, was done with the consent of the 'powers that be' after consultations among the leaders of both the groups, sources told Dawn.

In February, four ministers had resigned in protest against Mr Hayat's policies and formed the 'like-minded group, with seven other lawmakers. Former finance minister Shah Ghulam Qadir led the group.

During the expansion of the cabinet on Nov 13, seven members of the group were among the 11 ministers inducted. The group had demanded at least three of the six key portfolios and several meetings were held between the prime minister and Mr Qadir to settle the issue. The final approval was given by the 'powers that be', the sources said.

The had been given three important portfolios but the prime minister had managed that the serving ministers, except for the senior minister, should not lose much, the sources said.

According to a notification, the portfolio of public works and development authorities has been withdrawn from Senior Minister Syed Mumtaz Ali Gillani and given to Chaudhry Tariq Farooq of the 'like-minded group'. Mr Gillani has been allotted the revenue department.

The local government and rural development department has been withdrawn from Raja Nisar Ahmed Khan, who will keep the portfolio of law and parliamentary affairs, finance, planning and development.

The LG&RD department has been allotted to Raja Naseer Ahmed Khan. Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Mallick Mohammad Nawaz Khan has been allotted additional portfolios of civil defence and the Armed Services Board. Food Minister Raja Abdul Qayyum Khan will retain his portfolio.

Sardar Mir Akbar Khan will retain the electricity department but the Hydroelectric Board has been withdrawn from him. Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz will retain the education ministry but the Auqaf and religious affairs departments have been withdrawn from him and allotted to Hafiz Hamid Raza.

The health department has been withdrawn from Sardar Yaqoob Khan and allotted to Chaudhry Masood Khalid. Sardar Yaqoob has been allotted the portfolio of industries, mineral resources, labour, sericulture and the Hydroelectric Board.

The forest department has been withdrawn from Mufti Mansoorur Rehman and given to Mir Ali Akbar. Mufti Mansoor has retained the Azad Kashmir Logging and Sawmills Corporation and the tourism, fisheries, wildlife, archaeology and environment departments.

Sardar Tahir Anwar Khan has been allotted the transport, cooperatives and prisons departments; Deevan Ali Khan Chughtai, youth, culture and sports and Raja Mohammad Yasin Khan, the Minerals and the Industrial Development Corporation, the Small Industries Corporation and the government printing press.

Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin Gulshan has been allotted the Zakat and Ushr portfolio; Shireen Waheed, social welfare, women development and population welfare; and Amir Ghaffar Lone, rehabilitation, relief and evacuee property.