"The performance audit process has been delayed intentionally as the prime minister doesn't want to offend any minister or give him a reason to create a stir within the party ranks," he said. He said the performance audit process would begin shortly after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's November 30 public gathering in Islamabad. "If the prime minister takes back portfolio from any minister at this stage, that minister may decide to leave the party and join PTI," he said.
Another reason for the delay, sources said, is the fear that if a portfolio is taken away from any minister the party member(s) may join former Punjab chief minister Dost Muhammad Khosa who has swung into action to form a forward bloc within the ruling party. There are many hopefuls in the PML-N who feel their years of loyalty have not been rewarded with a portfolio. Khosa recently said that efforts were under way to form a forward bloc in the PML-N, which would comprise disgruntled leaders and workers in the party. He claimed that he enjoyed support of several discontented PML-N leaders and workers "who could also submit their resignations in the next phase".
The official said that individual ministerial performance is being evaluated in the light of the status of implementation on government policy decisions, meetings held by the minister in his/ her ministry and outcome of foreign visits. He further said that the PM is personally involved in the workings of important ministries, such as energy, planning and development among others. The cabinet comprises 20 federal ministers, 10 state ministers and three advisers. Under the 18th Amendment, 11 percent of the total members of parliament can become part of the cabinet. Therefore, PM Nawaz Sharif can have a 50-member cabinet, out of the 342 members of the National Assembly and 104 senators.
On the possibility of cabinet portfolios being offered to parliamentarians of other parties, the party official said that with a comfortable majority of 190 MNAs in the National Assembly, most additions to the cabinet would be from the party itself, but the odd ministry could be offered to an "outsider", particularly those who had stood with the PML-N against the onslaught of the protesting parties, led by Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri. Khawaja Asif, the federal minister responsible for both power and defense, and Pervez Rashid, the minister for both law and information, may be relieved of their additional responsibilities.