MUZAFFARABAD: Acting AJK President Chaudhry Tariq Farooq administered the oath to an eight-member cabinet at the President House here on Friday. Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shah Ghulam Qadir, Raja Farooq Haider and others were also present.

Those who took the oath include Azhar Sadiq, Colonel (R) Waqar Noor, Raja Riyasat, Umair Naeem, Dr Mustafa Bashir, Raja Saqib, and Mir Akbar Abdul Rehman Arain. In the second phase, more ministers, parliamentary secretaries, and advisors will be appointed.

According to sources, transfers in the bureaucracy as well as in the police administration will be carried out in the next few days. Transfer of senior officers, including the chief secretary and IGP, is also expected.

Political observers believe that the formation of the new cabinet will help improve governance and administrative affairs in the region. Further consultations regarding portfolios and additional appointments are currently underway among coalition partners.