ISLAMABAD, March 12: PPP leader Farooq Naek, who left the office of Senate chairman on Sunday, is likely to replace Maula Bux Chandio as Law Minister.

It was stated by a senior official at the presidency on Sunday.

He said the decision had been taken at recent meetings of the PPP core committee and heads of coalition parties.

Mr Naek was not available for comment, and Mr Chandio expressed his ignorance about the decision.

“If this decision has been taken by the party, I will accept it in god spirit,” he said.

A PPP leader said President Asif Ali Zardari wanted to benefit from Mr Naek’s expertise as a senior lawyer. He had fought several cases of the president when the latter was in jail.

The PPP leader said the mater had been discussed in detail at a recent meeting of the party’s core committee because Mr Naek’s services were needed in cases before the Supreme Court and high courts.

It is learnt that there are some other aspirants for the office, including former law minister Babar Awan and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan.

The PPP leader said the ministry was virtually being run by the former law minister and his brother who was serving as an adviser to the minister.

He said Mr Naek had to leave the top Senate post because the president was of the view that the party required a strong legal team to contest cases of its leaders in the apex court.

However, some party leaders indicated that reported differences between the president and Mr Naek on some issues might have led to the change.