Shehbaz gets his cabinet, Hina Rabbani Khar made MoS foreign affairs
New Delhi
After days of rumblings and dilly-dallying, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif finally could get his cabinet sworn in on Tuesday.
Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani administered the oath to 37 today federal ministers and ministers of state, 'Dawn' and other Pakistani media reported on Tuesday.
In an interesting development, former 'full-fledged cabinet' and in-charge of foreign ministry, Hina Rabbani Khar, has taken charge now as the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
"She visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad today where Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood and other officials of the Ministry welcomed her," 'Radio Pakistan' reported.
Ms Hina Rabbani Khar earlier served as foreign minister between February 11, 2011 and March 16, 2013.
She is from PPP and thus indications still remain that her party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari may eventually take over as Pakistan's new foreign minister.
PPP leaders have suggested that following the footsteps of his grand father Late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Bilawal too could try to build up his image based on international limelight.
Bilawal is also son of former PM Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari.
Z A Bhutto was Pakistan's foreign minister first between January 24, 1963 and June 30, 1966 and later between December 20, 1971 and March 28, 1977.
There were 31 federal ministers and three ministers of state and as many advisers to the new Prime Minister.
As expected, Sharif's PML (N) walked away with sizable representation in the new ministry that replaced Imran Khan's
regime.
PTI leader and cricket Imran Khan's was the first dispensation that was voted out of office in Parliament or
Pakistan's National Assembly.
'Radio Pakistan' also reported that Marriyum Aurangzeb has taken charge as Minister for
Information and Broadcasting.
On her arrival at the Ministry of Information, she said that the new government believes in freedom of
expression.
Azam Nazir Tarar will be the new Minister for Law and Justice.
In a tweet, PM Shehbaz said that the federal cabinet was formed after "thorough consultations"
with PML-N supremo and former PM Nawaz Sharif and the government's coalition allies.
"It is my fervent hope that federal ministers, ministers of state and advisers will provide leadership,
and resolve the problems of the people. Work, work and only work is our motto," he said.
It may be mentioned that there was serious allegation of absence of effective governance in
Pakistan under Imran Khan.
A few federal ministers include - Khawaja Muhammad Asif (PML-N)
Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and PPP lawmakers Syed Khursheed Shah,
Syed Naveed Qamar, Sherry Rehman and Abdul Qadir Patel.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa called on Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif and discussed professional matters, reports say.
ends
Editors' Guild: Press Statement on communal violence and reporting
PRESS STATEMENT
April 19th, 2022
The Editors Guild of India urges editors and journalists to exercise utmost restraint, and observe the highest professional standards, in reporting communal disturbances that have erupted in various parts of the country.
While EGI is cognizant of the hazards faced by on-ground reporters in riot-like situations, it is dismayed to note that due diligence has been wanting in the evaluation and presentation of reports of the clashes between communities. This is especially evident in electronic, digital and social media.
In the understandable desire to be first with the news, and to catch the eye of news consumers, many editors and reporters appear to be rushing to conclusions, and assigning responsibility to one or the other community, without a full appreciation of the facts, context and calculations at work. This could have lasting implications.
As the long arc of communal violence in the country shows, most incidents are rarely what they seem to be on the surface. The patronage of politicians, police, officials and non-state actors is well documented. It is, therefore, incumbent for editors to bring their experience and perspective to the newsroom in these surcharged times.
EGI believes it is necessary for every journalist to make the extra effort to maintain fairness, neutrality and balance, and not allow themselves to become pawns in the larger game of polarisation.
Journalism has many noble objectives as well as professional obligations. Helping preserve social peace and communal harmony—by not fuelling rumours; by not being partisan; by not setting citizen against citizen—is one such worthy professional obligation.
Thanks and regards,
Seema Mustafa, President
Sanjay Kapoor, General Secretary
Anant Nath, Treasurer
No comments:
Post a Comment