In Pakistan, the ruling Pakistan's People Party today gave Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani the go-ahead to dissolve his jumbo cabinet and form a smaller council of ministers amid demands for political reforms from the opposition and international donors. The decision came after a meeting chaired by party chief and President Asif Ali Zardari at the presidency. All ministers, advisors and officials holding positions with the rank of ministers will cease to hold their posts from a date to be soon decided by the Prime Minister, the statement said. The decision on dissolving the 62-member cabinet will be made after consultations with partners in the PPP-led coalition at the centre. All ministers were ready to resign as part of the exercise to revamp the cabinet. The Foreign Secretary Mrs. Nirupama Rao has asserted that justice will be done only when the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks are brought to the book. Mrs. Rao told this to newsmen in reply to a query whether she will raise this issue when she meets her Pakistani counterpart in Bhutan. She was talking to newsmen following her meeting with the Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram in New Delhi this evening. The Foreign Secretary, who is leaving for Thimphu for a SAARC meeting, will hold bilateral talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir on the margins of Sunday and Monday. Noting that 26/11 trial in Pakistan was one of the issues under discussion between the two governments, particularly between the Interior Ministry of Pakistan and our Home ministry, she said New Delhi and Islamabad have been in correspondence about the exchange of evidence that is required for the trial to go forward after the meeting of the ministers last June. Commenting on her forthcoming meeting with Bashir, she said India will see how it can pick up the thread once again.
News On AIR | February 4, 2011 8:54 PM
Pak ruling party empowers Gilani to dissolve federal cabinet