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TODAY, the first members of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s cabinet will be sworn in.
The cabinet is central to all governments’ aspirations in office, but Prime Minister Khan’s cabinet will have particular importance. A political veteran at this stage of his career, Mr Khan is a novice in the executive branch. Moreover, with the PTI forming provincial governments in KP and Punjab; partnering in the Balochistan government; and having an important opposition role in Sindh and dominating the National Assembly seats from Karachi, the PTI that Mr Khan leads will need a great deal of the prime minister’s time and attention.
Finally, in his address to the nation on Sunday, Prime Minister Khan has laid out an ambitious governance and reforms agenda; only an empowered and capable federal cabinet will be able to deliver what Mr Khan has demanded. It is, therefore, disappointing that Mr Khan has selected among his first cabinet members a number of individuals who represent status quo.
The thin majority by which Mr Khan was elected prime minister in the National Assembly on Friday hinted at the difficulties the PTI has faced in forming a federal government. The sheer number of members from parties other than the PTI in the first cabinet batch indicates that good governance will be difficult to deliver. Coalition allies handed plum cabinet posts are not usually known for investing a great deal in the lead party’s governance agenda. The PTI has a further, intra-party division to contend with: the so-called electables and individuals mired in power politics that the PTI has attracted in recent years dominate the front lines of the party and few young or core PTI members have found themselves elevated to positions of real executive strength.
Perhaps Mr Khan believes that the driver of change will be himself and the Prime Minister’s Office he now occupies, and therefore compromises in cabinet selection are not an important matter. But the over-centralisation of power is a problem itself and quickly leads to governance gridlock, arbitrary decision-making and nepotism.
Also surprising is Prime Minister Khan’s decision to retain the interior portfolio for at least the time being.
The interior ministry is a vast portfolio that is not only critical to the maintenance of law and order in the country, but to which vital public service organisations such as Nadra and the passports department report. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was widely and persistently criticised for refusing to instal a foreign minister or defence minister for much of his last term and the critics were right.
Efficiency in government suffers and decision-making is mired in confusion when important ministries are left without full-time ministers. Prime Minister Khan appears to be aware that the first few months in office will be critical to the public’s perception of the PTI as a national governing party. The early stages of a government are also when political capital can be expended in pursuit of its agenda.
Mr Khan can and should choose more boldly and imaginatively than he has so far. It is hoped that the federal cabinet will soon have more members who reflect the politics and values that Mr Khan claims the PTI will represent in government.
Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2018
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Comments (52) Closed
Aug 20, 2018 07:32am
Did you notice 11 of his cabinet colleagues are of Mushrraf era. Any guess.
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Aug 20, 2018 08:36am
Skepticism is good as long as it does not become a source of outright pessimism. Luckily the new PM in IK is committed to discard failed governance models and modus operandi of his predecessors, specially the more recent ones. This he has courageously set out to do with strong conviction. His focus is on and for betterment of ordinary citizens with whom he has already opened a dialogue in their language and level. His approach seems to be building from ground up where his chosen cabinet members will act as facilitators to execute his vision. As long as they stick to their assignments and follow through with their responsibilities, things will happen for better. It is time to support haven't change by getting involved. Reviving spirit of self reliance is the only way forward. It is going to be hard b/c of ingrained attitudes of status quo. As they say, static friction is greater than the dynamic one. It is never too late to start moving.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:46am
Badly begun, half is lost already.
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Aug 20, 2018 10:42am
The thin majority by which Mr Khan was elected prime minister in the National Assembly on Friday hinted at the difficulties the PTI has faced in forming a federal government?
How? He was elected PM by over 70 votes!
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Aug 20, 2018 11:21am
"Prime Minister Khan appears to be aware that the first few months in office will be critical to the public’s perception of the PTI as a national governing party."
This editorial speaks of these criteria as if the former governments have left some high standard that he now has to compete with. But since the only standard past governments have left is causing harm to the country. So by that account, as long as he does not cause further harm, he has succeeded.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:36am
With a threadbare majority in the National Assembly Imran Khan has his work cut out. His choice of cabinet reflects this reality as the editorial points out. However, Imran has always delivered because of his determination and courage. One hopes and prays that he is successful. My advice to him is to go back to the people after a couple of years and come back with a workable majority. Already, one feels Nawaz and PML N has become history.
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Aug 20, 2018 12:01pm
"Mr Khan can and should choose more boldly and imaginatively than he has so far"
No you cannot choose boldly when you are running a coalition government. Please don't set unrealistic targets for the new government. The cabinet has been chosen wisely.
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Aug 20, 2018 12:16pm
A Dull speech, A disappointing cabinet.
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Aug 20, 2018 01:01pm
As someone knowing some people in the cabinet, I am constrained to express my disappointment at IK's choice of his team members. May be IK did not have much choice.
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Aug 20, 2018 01:24pm
I.K. can take a page from Trump in selection of Ministers. Trump selected his team, but when he found out there were better choices who could deliver what he wanted better, it did not take him long to change. Tillerson was replaced by Pompeo and many others have been replaced. There is no room for cronyism when in public office.
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Aug 20, 2018 02:05pm
@Reader There is a huge difference between a parliamentary form of democracy and a presidential one. That has to be kept in mind. Your example is not appropriate.
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Aug 20, 2018 02:15pm
He is always in too much of a hurry.
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Aug 20, 2018 02:41pm
A rather disappoint Editorial. Looking at all the appointees, real impetus will come from Advisors which will be pushed through by Prime Minister via Cabinet. Not the perfect solution but optimum in current circumstances.
A number of cabinet appointees are from Musharraf era but maybe they never had the opportunity to perform with a weak Prime Minister Zafaraullah Jamali?
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Aug 20, 2018 03:27pm
IK should choose the best and brightest talent in Pakistan for his team. Unfortunately, PTI pool is fairly limited. He should therefore reach beyond his party. His team should include young dynamic 'can do' people. The Punjab CM was a disappointing choice. He should now look to bring in best of Pakistan in his 2nd tier i.e. Ministers of State etc.
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Aug 20, 2018 03:31pm
Well head is not the Musharraf. Imran Khan is determined to achieve what he has promised in his inaugural speech. He started Naya Pakistan from him so rest have to follow or go. Some how “ Dawn” always has a bias against Mr. due to some unknown reason and give always negative prediction against him! Give him a chance and let him clear the 70 years of this dirt left behind our selfis, self serving leaders.
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Aug 20, 2018 03:31pm
No matter what I know my PM is patriotic and that is all I want. Proud of the nation and the PM Honourable SIR Imran Khan
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Aug 20, 2018 03:34pm
Unasked for advice mill in full swing, self proclaimed paragons of political wisdom, armchair athelets advising a actual and real top class athlete. A man who has struggle to for twenty two years to rid the country from the status quo mafia and its stangle hold has succeeded in putting arch-mafia and his delusional daughter in jail and take reigns of power from them. Surely the man knows a trick or two of the trade, what ministers he chooses is entirely his prerogaitive.
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Aug 20, 2018 03:37pm
@Saad Saeed Thank you for being realistic. The alternative would be PML N or PPP with a 42 member cabinet full of cronies with same old same okd nepotism and corruption.
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Aug 20, 2018 04:04pm
Choosing cabinet members boldly is not possible in this system, we have to change the system where President is directly elected by the peoples of Pakistan, and MNAs are only for making laws, they cant become ministers as in USA. Then President will choose cabinet members on merit. In our system, the Prime Minister depends on MNAs
who can blackmail him and he has to compromise. There is no hope without changing the system.
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Aug 20, 2018 05:02pm
Imran Khan is probably the first person in the world who reached the Top positions in two alltogether different fields-Sports and Politics-Cricket World Champion and now Prime Minister. Is there anyone else, I wonder.
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Aug 20, 2018 05:12pm
Remarkable step by the #PrimeMinister to put the cabinet accountable very first..
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Aug 20, 2018 06:37pm
I read the speech again and again. Every item by item issues presented by the new PM seems like urgent. All our development milestones are so bad, that each and every theme presented by the PM is simply urgent. Was not able to priorities. Every issue need to be resolved now and now. Amazing!! Good Luck new government!!
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Aug 20, 2018 06:38pm
Action Plan? Who will do, what, when, and how? The P.M. talked comprehensively on almost all the relevant issues. But people want to know what has to be achieved in concrete terms, within what time frame, and the result oriented part of it all. Look! The time for rhetoric, flattery, self seeking and personal cult has passed away. It is now or never. The one thing I find most interesting here is about the self imposed austerity measures. The others relate to honesty of purpose and pious intentions of the top leadership. Mr. Khan must also concentrate about developing his next in command to guarantee continuity of the process of his intended 'good governance' approach. Finally: Work, no words'!
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Aug 20, 2018 07:43pm
I k can get 100 percent from anybody even a matriculate so don't worry and watch the show , it is a good cabinet he did the right thing by keeping home ministry to himself.No comparison Between NS and IK.
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Aug 20, 2018 09:12pm
All 'old faces' in new cabinet!
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Aug 20, 2018 09:44pm
His choices are not for-life. The recommendation for the new prime minister should be to "Keep those that deliver and Replace those that do NOT"
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Aug 20, 2018 09:45pm
@Saad Saeed He will be a week PM, because lots of small parties will ask for more than they deserve, plus the "largest stake holder" will meddle in the appointment of Foreign and Defense minister.
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Aug 20, 2018 10:01pm
IK has not appointed any interior minister because he knows it very well how such a portfolio can damage his own government. He has learnt this lesson from NS government. And NS had learnt the lesson by not appointing foreign minister from Zardari government because as the then foreign minister created trouble for its own government.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:03pm
@Haramullah, so what ? Don't you have new neighbours, or change friends. IK is in the habit of taking challenges. He has taken up the challenge of using these specialists on his terms. No corruption, if anyone has to work under him. What is wrong if some of them have worked under Gen. Musharraf.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:41pm
Well is the Prime minister, way back in the crowd offering to bring about an inclusive welfare state, i know! he got trampled in the rush of good ideas. Give the person elected room to make choices and of course mistakes,If he has what it takes he will move the nation forward,but we will need know how and perhaps from people he would make other choices about. getting inside a car for the first time doesnt mean you can drive it properly,he needs time and the chance to borrow expertese.
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Aug 20, 2018 11:48pm
Don't expect overnight blooms in half-dead branches, give him some time. If PM Imran Khan takes out 30% corruption from the country during his tenure I will say he is successful. Because ,the previous leaders have made the masses mentally corrupt. Most people think they can't get anything with honesty.
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Aug 21, 2018 12:05am
IK was known to select his own team when he was the captain.This cabinet though qualified does not seem to fit his aggressive agenda.Was it selected somewhere else?.
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Aug 21, 2018 12:38am
@Shahid Not a very good start.
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Aug 21, 2018 12:56am
Many of them are ex Musharraf aides. Two are actually the lawyers who defended him in the courts.what are the chances of those cases ever seeing the light of day again?
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Aug 21, 2018 12:56am
Don't blame Imran for his choice of cabinet members, blame the system that requires that only elected MNA's can be ministers. The rest of the world has no such requirement, hence the best and most capable professionals in their respective fields are given cabinet posts.( Ayub Khan's cabinet was 80% non MNA's) An aspiring politician's reward for an electoral win should be his MNA seat so he can do for his community which he promised when asking for their vote. Wanting a cabinet post for which he has no qualification, itself smacks of undeserved privilege or worse, the opportunity to " make it " while they can. The law requiring only MNA's can be ministers was initiated by corrupt law makers so they could abuse the system for self gain once in power. This was the only count on which the politicians never failed to deliver.
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Aug 21, 2018 01:38am
Firstly, as he is new opener, he has to be cautious to test the field and study the pitch. Once he has done that, he will let lose on the boundaries. Non performing ministers can be changed but his vision is most admirable of any Prime minister of a third world country in the world. Media should support him.
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Aug 21, 2018 02:03am
In IK we trust. It is his commitment, honesty and perseverance which allows him to succeed in anything that he steps into, no matter what the circumstances are.
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Aug 21, 2018 02:19am
@M. Emad .Please think of the 2.25 Crore children who are not going to school. 45% young are suffering from stunted growth.May be you and others like you should do something constructive. Open a soup kitchen for those with stunted growth or a school for those who cannot afford to go to school. I have done that though I do not live in Pakistan. Some People are worrying about other frivolous issues. Wake up Guys!
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Aug 21, 2018 03:58am
Your editorial proves that presidential system will be more appropriate for pakistan and frankly I feel for country like pakistan that is the best option where president is directly elected by people and ma and MPAA represent their districts and cant bring the govt down w 4 votes
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Aug 21, 2018 05:19am
@PakPukuDenguta dream on Indian.
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Aug 21, 2018 05:32am
No doubt the challenges before Imran Khan are a test case for his first ever government but we should wait for a tangible period before throwing a plethora of criticism . His cabinet members are apparently less experienced but given the unflinching determination of their leader Imran Khan whose vigilance over their performance will be a key factor in moulding them to face all the challanges that lay before them.
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Aug 21, 2018 06:04am
@Laeeq This editorial is a reality check
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Aug 21, 2018 07:30am
Problem is half of government machinery is corrupt and gulped exchequers tax money,like in Peshawar you won't see any Doctor ,Engineer and Bureaucracy supporting I.K ,the reason of which is pretty clear they have made money,and most of them are in NAB radar toobut due to corrupt and incapable heads they can't be held accountable.Even my brother don't like PTI,because he have to obey proper timeline to get at Work in hospital and who would like to get out of his cozy sofa.Similarly,my uncle who have made millions because of corruption even stopped watching T.V after I.K win.We are going with war with them,60% of gov savant are extremely corrupt and have made million they somehow want to make I.K auspicious win suspicious.We need to bring more awareness among the poor masses and we too have many peoples who have capacity to nip these devils with their evils.
InshAllah Trust I.K
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Aug 21, 2018 08:43am
I know this much, you do not wish him well.
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Aug 21, 2018 09:09am
@Haramullah So what
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Aug 21, 2018 11:49am
@Pakistani
Hes not competing against other parties performances, hes competing against his own words and hopes he gave to the people and his followers, so yes, tough task is ahead for him
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Aug 21, 2018 01:09pm
Give him a fair chance. He is in office only for a week till date. What can he do in these six or seven days. Also he is novice in governance and scavenger birds are already hovering on his head. So let us be pragmatic and give him a year or s o before giving him advise or criticising him.
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Aug 21, 2018 02:18pm
The constitution does not require a PM to have more than 50 percent of the House vote to become its leader. It is therefore wrong to say Imran Khan was elected PM with a thin majority. He secured a considerable high vote in the House and therefore was elected PM.
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Aug 21, 2018 04:13pm
Once he has followed your advice, then you will find something else he must change, it will go on and on. IK was elected by the people not the media, who he brings in his cabinet is his choice and his responsibility, if he fails he takes the flak. You have two choices, IK and his PTI or the status quo of loot, plunder, money laundering and abuse of power. Even if IK fails, it will still be far better than the status quo.
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Aug 21, 2018 08:33pm
@Chaya Not all.IK will have more number of well wishers from India than his haters from Pakistan.Please expect a few critics from India too.
We,Indians know very well that he won't be rational or reasonable with India, but yet he has to take care of 22 crores of people and he needs time and peace of mind.
He is certainly going to change the way Pakistan is managed.
Right now he is facing compulsions of coalition politics.Thats it.
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Aug 22, 2018 04:15am
The present cabinet setup with 70% politician belonging to Musharraf’s era, is a complete & naked example of political expediency in play. It is highly unlikely that these zealots who in the past pulling the cart of status quo, may change heart overnight & become champion of change, as promised by our newly installed PM. The nation is likely to expect confusion due to pull and push in many directions which may result a very high frequency of turbulent times in near future. As suggested, IK who has no luxury of available laxity of time frame, needs to change track by becoming bold and imaginative to appoint visionary &forward looking cabinet members, in order to dilute the effectiveness of these forces of status quo. Unless that is not forthcoming fulfillment of these tall order of promised reforms in the social sector, which the nation urgently needs, will remain a piper’s dream causing disillusionment, disappointment & total frustration in the rank and file of youth looking for change
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Aug 23, 2018 06:18am
I sincerely hope all of them are experts who know calculus.
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