Cabinet reshuffle soon: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday said the military operation against militants would end much before the people expected, and the federal cabinet would be reshuffled in a way that right job is assigned to the right man.“During a meeting today, the Army chief informed me that the operation was progressing well and would come to its logical conclusion soon,” he said in an interaction with the electronic media here on Wednesday.The prime minister hinted that the nation would soon hear good news about the end of the operation and return of the internally displaced persons to their homes. Gilani also hinted at a cabinet reshuffle, saying that after assessing the performance of his ministers for the last 15 months, now the right man would be assigned the right job. According to sources, at least six ministers would be axed while many would see a portfolio change.Replying to a question about the operation in Waziristan, he said traces of all terrorist incidents lead to Baitullah Mehsud and action had to be taken to eliminate terrorists. About the debate on creating new provinces, the prime minister said the country could not afford creation of new federating units at a time when it needed political and economic stability.He said the president had conveyed to the Punjab chief minister through a senior provincial minister that the government wanted harmony and conciliation. He said the government would now focus on Balochistan and resolve its problems by taking all the stakeholders on board. He said that constitutional as well as other issues facing the province would be resolved. Meetings of the CCI and NFC would soon be convened, he added.He told a questioner that Pakistan wanted resumption of the composite dialogue and the confidence-building measures with India to resolve disputes between the two neighbouring countries. About the power shortage, Gilani said the issue of loadshedding was thoroughly debated in the cabinet meeting on Wednesday and a cabinet committee had been constituted to look into the issue. The committee held its first meeting on Wednesday and would further discuss the issue in its meeting on Thursday (today), he added.APP adds: Gilani told media persons here at the PM House that the government was committed to undertaking and completing the rehabilitation and reconstruction process in a transparent manner through the involvement of all the stakeholders.He said the government wanted to ensure transparency in the relief and rehabilitation of the IDPs. Gilani said the military operation, which was launched after the writ of government was challenged, was not a permanent solution and “we have to find a durable solution.”Later, during the question-answer session, the prime minister said that now there was a growing realisation among the US and the world at large that Pakistan was fighting the war on terror for its own sake.“Now they realise that we mean business. We are not mercenaries. The whole world is going to benefit by winning the war and the international community should come and support us.” To a question about relations with Saudi Arabia, he said Pakistan continues to enjoy fraternal ties with the brotherly Muslim country.He said there had been high-level contacts with the Saudi leadership during which the king expressed his warm sentiments for Pakistan and its people.He said that the issue of Saudi oil facility for Pakistan would also be taken up with the Saudi officials.