QUETTA, Jan 2: Sixteen new ministers were inducted into the provincial cabinet in the second phase on Friday, raising the strength of ministers to 30 including the chief minister.

This cabinet expansion is the largest in the history of Balochistan, with women and members of the minority also granted representation. Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani administered the oath to ministers at Governor House on Friday night.

The delay in the ceremony occurred because of the differences between the chief minister and MMA party members, over the percentage of its coalition partners and representatives in the government. Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf, ministers, and high civil officials were present at the function.

Among those who took the oath of office are Maulana Abdul Bari, Maulana Dur Muhammad Pirkani, Maulana Noor Muhammad, Syed Matiullah Agha, Maulana Abdur Rahim Bazai, Maulvi Ataullah, J. Parkash of MMA, Mir Shoiab Nausherwani, Mir Qaddus Bizenjo, Mir Bakthair Domki, Mir Sher Jan Baloch, Mir Ghafoor Lehri, Mrs Nasreen Rehman Khetran, Mrs Shama Parveen Magsi of PML, and Mir Asghar Rind and Mir Habibur Rehman Muhammadhasni affiliated with the National Alliance.