KARACHI: Thumbnail sketches of cabinet ministers
Political analysts point out that while three cabinet members are nominees of the Islamabad establishment, five are supported by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, five by the Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) and one by the PML-Q.
Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Abdul Qadir Halepota was first information minister and then law minister in the cabinet of former Sindh governor Azim Daudpota, a retired air marshal.
Mr Halepota was born in Goth Jeando Halepota near Hyderabad in 1933. He obtained his early education at Noor Muhammad High School and is a law graduate of the Sindh University.
Before being selected a judge of the Sindh High Court by the late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in the 1970s, he was twice elected president of the Hyderabad District Bar Association.
After retirement from the Sindh High Court, he resumed his law practice. He is a brother of Ali Ahmed Halepota, member (technical) of the Sindh Election Commission.
Home Minister Akhtar Zamin, a retired brigadier, is former principal secretary to the governor. Till his induction into the caretaker cabinet, he was chairman of the Employees Old-Age Benefit Institution. A graduate of the Sindh University, he opted for a short commission in a six-month war course in 1966-67. He later served as a lieutenant-colonel in the Sindh Rangers. He is known to be close to President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
Finance Minister Dewan Mohammad Yusuf was housing and town planning minister in the cabinet of former Sindh governor, Azim Daudpota. An industrialist, Mr Yusuf is a scion of a well-known family of philanthropists. He was reportedly first introduced to the president by eminent surgeon Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi.
Religious and Auqaf Affairs Minister Haji Irshad Memon is a brother of former bureaucrat Haroon Memon and considered to be a close lieutenant of caretaker Prime Minister Muhammadmian Soomro.
Women Development Minister Nadra Panjwani is an outstanding social worker belonging to a well-known philanthropist family committed to the advancement of education. Her family was instrumental in the establishment of the Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research in the Karachi University.
Tourism and Culture Minister Amber Raza Nancy has been active in Karachi politics and social work. She is a member of the association of Clifton and Defence residents. She was reportedly in charge of the election campaign of former MQM parliamentarian Akhlaq Hussain Abidi in the Defence area.
Labour, Transport and Industries Minister Arif Ali Abbasi is essentially an aviation man. He worked as managing-director of the PIA three times, his last term beginning shortly after the Oct 12, 1999 coup. He remained on the board of the Pakistan Cricket Board for 14 years and also served it as its chief executive. He also took a keen interest in the promotion of hockey and squash.
Health Minister Fauzia Lari is a cousin of famous architect Yasmin Lari and Karachi Naib Nazim Nasreen Jalil.
Education Minister Shujaat Ali Baig is a high-ranking officer in the Habib Bank and spouse of eminent TV artiste Khushbakht Shujaat.
Communications and Works Minister Pir Sibghatullah Rashdi is a former provincial minister and senior politician. He is the eldest son of Pir Pagara and has considerable experience of supervising the working of government departments as a minister.
Planning and Development Minister Syed Jalal Shah Jamote is also from PML-F. He hails from Matiari and is a disciple of Pir Pagara. Elected from PS-44 (Hyderabad-II) he was a member of the outgoing Sindh assembly.
Information Technology Minister Jam Karam Ali is a cousin of the late chief minister Jam Sadiq Ali. He is also known to be close to Pir Pagara. He is a former senator.
Revenue Minister Dr Abdul Karim Mehar is a Khalifa (spiritual deputy) of Pir Pagara.
Law Minister Iftikhar Ahmad Chaudhry is a former law, parliamentary affairs and human rights minister from the Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim cabinet. He is a leader of the PML-F.Agricultural and Food Minister Aijaz Ahmad Shirazi is a former adviser to Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim. He belongs to the eminent Shirazi group of Thatta.