Observers are expecting changes in the federal cabinet that is to be sworn in to serve under Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
At least half the ministers who served former prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, and then Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, will make an exit.
Those replacing them will, according to Pakistan Muslim League (PML) sources include those favoured‚ by Shujaat as a reward‚ to him for paving the way for Aziz, and arranging‚ for him to be voted in from Attock, on a seat vacated by his niece.
"After all, he could never be PM without the party's backing," a PML source said.
Among those thought likely to be chosen are Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain, Shujaat's younger brother.
Other PML nominees‚ on the list of potential candidates are Hamid Yar Hiraj, Raza Hayyat, Ahmad Raza Manika, Makhdoom Khusro Bukhtiar, Abdul Ghaffar Khan Jatoi, Liaqat Jatoi, Mian Shaheem Haider, Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Maj (retd) Tahir Iqbal and Senator SM Zaffar.
Hiraj is among those who had switched to the PML from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), and had apparently been promised a ministry for some time. The failure to provide one had remained an embarrassment for Shujaat.
Omar Ayub Khan, son of former speaker Gohar Ayub, and Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari, a former president of the country, are also figuring on the list of those who may come in to the cabinet. Both are seen as loyalists of President Pervez Musharraf.
Expertise
Aziz, who wishes to set a sound record in office as prime minister, is also eager to ensure those in the cabinet have expertise in their field.
Ministers under Jamali, who meet this criterion, including education minister Zubaida Jalal, Humayun Akhtar Khan, Sardar Yar Mohammad Rind, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Mian Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Mohammad Ijazul Haq and Abdul Hafeez Sheikh are as such likely to retain their posts.
More women may be brought into the cabinet, and Dr Rozina Tufail and Dr Attiya Inayatullah are seen as those with the best chances of making the grade.
Others in the run include Dr Donya Aziz, Kashmala Tariq, Aasiya Azeem, Aayla Malik, Hina Rabbani Khar and Noor Jehan Paneyzai.
Shaukat Aziz is meanwhile said also to have sought information on the educational and professional qualifications of MNAs, enabling him to better utilise available resources.
Out of only 28 legislators with professional degrees, former commerce minister Humayun Akhtar Khan has a master's degree in actuarial and business mathematics.
Former parliamentary finance secretary Omar Ayub Khan has a BBA and MBA degree and Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain has a bachelor's degree from the George Washington University, USA. Kashmala Tariq has a LLM degree from the London School of Economics and is the favourite for the Ministry of Women's Welfare.
