Shahbaz Bhatti retains his profile

A promised reform has finally come to pass, and not a moment too soon. On Wednesday, the cabinet submitted resignations to the prime minister as a result of a reshuffle announced by the Premier to over come the economic crisis. The former cabinet was the world`s largest cabinet.On Thursday president Asif Ali Zardari accepted the resignations of the Federal cabinet.
Pakistan Peoples Party`s central executive committee after meetings with the coalition partners finalized a list of 23 Federal Ministers and a State Minister. The CEC finalized the list on the basis of competence and efficiency.

On Friday evening President Asif Ali Zardari swore in 22 Federal and 1 State minister at the Presidency in Islamabad. The list of the Federal Ministers was 23, but the Former Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi refused to take the oath in the new cabinet, according to sources Qureshi was informed by the leadership that his profile is being changed, he immediately refused to take the oath stating that due to his personal commitments he cannot take the oath. A chair was placed for Qureshi in the main hall of the President House but it was removed after the refusal. According to sources, Qureshi had a different opinion on Raymond Davis issue, which forced the CEC to rethink about his profile. Qureshi`s absance from the cabinet is a major setback for the Pakistan Peoples Party`s government. There were some reports that Qureshi may be the next prime minister in case of any change at the top level in the future. Qureshi's refusal came at a critical time as Zardari is set to visit the United States and Qureshi himself was scheduled to travel to Washington to attend the tripartite meeting with the U.S. and Afghan foreign ministers. Pakistan and India are also scheduled to begin formal peace talks next month and the Qureshi's exclusion of the cabinet will have some impact on the Foreign Ministry's role in the coming days.

Another astounding development, Shahbaz Bhatti is included in the new federal cabinet and retained his profile as the Federal Minister for Minority Affairs. There were reports that the Ministry of Minority Affairs would not be included in the new federal cabinet, but the CEC  (central executive committee ) took notice of the concerns of the minorities and invited Shahbaz Bhatti to the oath taking ceremony. Bhatti is the first parliamentarian who made history by assuming the office of Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs as his predecessors from the minorities’ communities were only offered the portfolio of State Minister for Minorities affairs.According to the reliable sources at the President house, the government was under pressure from the International Community for retaining the Ministry of Minority Affairs to take notice of the growing violence against the Minorities in Pakistan. A Christian youth was murdered this week near Ghakkar Mandi, Gujranwala City. Asia Bibi another Christian is awaiting for a formal trial from the Lahore High Court. Shahbaz Bhatti had proposed the amendment of the blasphemy law and launched an initiative to pardon Asia Bibi, who was sentenced to death under the law last year. Bhatti has received multiple life threats from extremist groups for his stand on the blasphemy laws and intervening in Asia Bibi`s case. Shahbaz Bhatti in his first interview after retaining his profile, said, " I thank God for giving me this opportunity to continue my struggle for the oppressed minorities in Pakistan. Minorities are equal citizens of Pakistan and have the same rights that of any other citizen, our forefathers sacrificed their lives for Pakistan. As I said before either I remain a minister or not, I will continue my struggle for the minorities, Pakistan People Party has given me this opportunity on the basis of competence and efficiency, I will not disappoint the leadership and the people of Pakistan. The doors to my office are open to every citizen of this Country, they can come to me, explain their problems, I will do whatever is possible to resolve the matter. I will visit Gujranwala and meet the family if the deceased Christian Youth."

XAVIER PATRAS WILLIAM
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