Asad Umar tipped as finance minister Page No.19 Col No.02 RECORDER REPORT ISLAMABAD: After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged as a major seat winning party, the names of some prominent PTI leaders have surfaced who will be part of Imran Khan’s cabinet after he will take oath as prime minister in the first or second week of August. The sources said that Khan has indicated to keep its cabinet short consisting of some 20 ministers and a few advisers, which may be expanded at some later stage if needed. Dr Arif Alvi and Shafqat Mahmood are said to be the strong contender for the slot of speaker National Assembly while Zartaj Gul Wazir, an MNA from Dera Ghazi Khan, may be elected as deputy speaker. Shah Mehmood Qureshi is a strong contender for the slot of foreign minister. Asad Umar’s elevation as finance minister is a done deal as Imran Khan had announced it long before elections. Former Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak’s name is being considered for the slot of interior minister given his performance as chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2013 to 2018. However, if Khattak is appointed as chief minister KP again, Shafqat Mahmood may be handpicked as interior minister. Dr Shireen Mazari may be elevated as federal minister for information, while Fawad Chaudhry may also be elevated in the federal cabinet but his portfolio is yet to be decided. For the slot of defense minister, the party is yet to identify anyone. The party is considering to give railways ministry to Sheikh Rasheed of Awami Muslim League who stood by Khan through thick and thin throughout his five years struggle against Nawaz Sharif government. The sources have said that Makhdoom Khushro Bakhtiyar, Murad Saeed, Senator Chaudhry Sarwar, Azam Swati, Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Ramesh Kumar, Amir Liaquat Hussain and Shahriyar Afridi are also expected to be included in the federal cabinet. Malik Ameen Aslam will be handpicked as adviser to the prime minister on environment given his contribution in Billion Tree Tsunami project which turned the tide of ecological ruin all over in KP. .