ISLAMABAD, Aug 20: Three federal ministers, aspiring to contest the forthcoming elections, resigned from their ministries here on Tuesday.

The three ministers, namely Abbas Sarfaraz, Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas; Zubaida Jalal, Minister for Education; and Attiya Inayatullah, Minister for Women’s Development and Population Welfare, paid separate farewell calls on the president on Tuesday, Information Secretary, Anwer Mehmood, told Dawn.

“There resignations will be accepted after the cabinet meeting tomorrow,” he said. The cabinet will grant final approval to the proposed constitutional amendments package.

The government has dropped a number of amendments and have retained only the crucial ones, including those pertaining to the president’s power to dissolve the elected institutions, and establishment of national security council.

When asked about the reports of the governor Sindh’s resignation, he said he had not resigned as yet. However, several names, including that of the Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider and Vice-Admiral (retd) Syed Tauqir Hussain Naqvi, were being reportedly considered for the slot.

However, some official sources said that Moinuddin Haider’s name topped the list. But he is one person who is considered essential in dealing with the election frenzy in the coming days, he added.

When contacted, Begum Attiya Inayatullah, said that she would be contesting the recently-restored women’s seats from Pakistan Muslim League (QA) platform. “I will apply for ticket from my old party — Pakistan Muslim League,” she said.

Zubaida Jalal and Abbas Sarfaraz will contest the general seats from their home constituencies Turbat and Mardan respectively.