Pakistan's PM Gilani to dissolve the cabinet

[News_Editor]

Pakistan's PM Gilani to dissolve the cabinet

2011-02-05 02:42:41 GMT+7 (ICT)

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday was authorized to dissolve the cabinet by Pakistan People's Party (PPP) central executive committee.

According to Ary News television, PPP central working committee met with President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed the issue of dissolution of the Federal Cabinet.

PPP Secretary-General Jehangir Badar announced after the meeting with President Zardari that the current cabinet will continue working until a new cabinet with fewer ministers is designated.

"All the ministers who attended the CEC meeting today submitted their resignations with the PPP Co-Chairman and Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari," said Badar.

Among the ministers that submitted their resignation were Makhdoom Amin Fahim, Babar Awan, Rahman Malik, Ejaz Jakhrani, Raza Rabbani, Makhdoom Shahab, Qamar Zaman Kaira and others.

Badar remarked that the decision to dissolve the cabinet was not made on proposal of Pakistan Muslim League-N Chief Nawaz Sharif. The cabinet will be reduced in number as it currently consists in 60 ministers.

The cabinet had been facing severe criticism from diverse sectors of society due to its big size. Badar added that the decision was taken in order to address the main challenges in Pakistan: the struggling finances and the war against terrorism.

In early January, Gilani's government was at stake after losing majority in the parliament following the defection of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the second-largest member of the ruling coalition. However, MQM rejoined the coalition after Gilani annuled his proposed increases on fuel prices.

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