Oath-taking ceremony of PM Shahid Khaqan’s cabinet postponed

MURREE (City News) – Oath taking ceremony of the federal cabinet was postponed on Wednesday as the leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) could not finalise the names for the portfolios.

Federal cabinet is to be elected following the ousting of former premier Nawaz Sharif under Article 62 and Article 63 of the constitution however, the ceremony of oath-taking that was to take place in the evening today has been postponed.

Freshly elected Prime Minister (PM) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi convened a meeting with the toppled premier at his Murree residence today to deliberate over the members of the party who should be handed over portfolios.

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Shehbaz Sharif attended the meeting among other dignitaries.

Reportedly, the leadership could not finalise names for all the portfolios and the oath-taking ceremony had to be delayed.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Abbasi was administered oath by President Mamnoon Hussain in Aiwan-e-Iqbal following he own voting in the National Assembly (NA).

Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, provincial governors and Chief Ministers of Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, the services chiefs, parliamentarians and diplomats attended the ceremony.

Speaking in the National Assembly after being elected as the Prime Minister, he vowed to ensure rule of law, strengthen economy and agriculture and promote tax culture and investment. He said integrated security would be among his top priorities.

He asked the countrymen to pay their taxes honestly as he plans to take stern action against those involved in tax evasion.

He said ten thousand megawatt additional electricity is being added to the national grid.

Referring to the Supreme Court verdict in Panama Papers case, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said PML-N accepted and implemented the judgment in letter and spirit.