Pakistan gets first Hindu cabinet minster after a score of years

It was a week full of transformations for Pakistan. Tuesday witnessed ascent of a new government at the Centre and Friday witnessed appointment of first the first Hindu cabinet minister after a score of years. In the new cabinet under the new Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a total of 27 federal ministers and 16 state ministers were included. But the most surprising name in the list was that of the Hindu minister Darshan Lal. Along with fellow cabinet ministers, Lal took oath on Friday from Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain. According to reports most of the names in the cabinet were same as in Nawaz Sharif’s government with some reshuffling in the portfolio. This was done purportedly to garner support for the ruling Paksitan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) party, in the upcoming general elections of 2018. 65 year old Darshan Lal, will reportedly, lead coordination between four Pakistani provinces. According to media reports, Lal was a doctor by practice in a town called Mirpur Mathelo of Ghotki district in Sindh province. With a PML-N ticket under the minority quota, Lal won election to the National Assembly for the second time in the year 2013. Ishaq Dar who had earlier handled finance ministry, gets back his position, despite the criminal investigation launched against him by Pakistan’s Supreme Court. Khawaja Asif, who is believed to be a close ally of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was appointed as foreign minister. He thus became the first one to be on the post since 2013.  Asif had earlier controlled defence and power ministries. According to the report of Reuters, the size of the cabinet has doubled keeping the upcoming general elections in mind. Pakistani writer and analyst Zahid Hussain said: “It’s a massive cabinet. It shows that it’s all about the next election.”