Muzaffarabad, Jan 11: Pakistan Administered Kashmir President, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan today administered oath to two ruling Peoples Party legislators, one of them his daughter, as members of the PaK cabinet, swelling its strength to 24.
 The swearing in ceremony of Farzana Ahmed and Raja Wajid-ur-Rehman was held in the presidency and attended by Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, Legislative Assembly Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq, cabinet members, government officials and political workers.
 Farzana Ahmed was elected in by-election from a Rawalakote constituency which became vacant after her father rose to the office of PaK president whereas Rehman was elected in indirect elections against a special seat reserved for the overseas Kashmiris.
 The portfolios of new ministers were not immediately announced.
 The strength of PP-PaK in the currently 48-member Legislative Assembly is 29 and it enjoys support of 2 MQM lawmakers as well.
 With the induction of two more ministers, the size of cabinet has expanded to 24, including one representative of MQM, and at the moment only three ruling PP-PaK MLAs-former premier Barrister Sultan Mahmood and indirectly elected Shazia Khatoon and Pir Attiqur Rehman Faizpuri - are without any public office.
 Khatoon, who also remained MLA in the previous assembly against a reserved seat, is said to be unhappy for not being appointed as minister.
 It may be interesting to note here that apart from 24-member cabinet, the PaK premier has appointed three unelected persons as his advisers and special assistant, with the status of minister.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 12 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST