President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday discussed reshuffling the federal cabinet, in what sources said were deliberations to accommodate the government's allies. The sources said the president agreed to the prime minister's proposal to reshuffle the cabinet on the basis of ministers' performance and also considered changes in the Sindh government.

Citing a recent meeting in London between Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain and Interior Minister Rehman Malik, the sources said the two had discussed the reshuffle and expansion in the federal cabinet and changes in the Sindh government. MQM leaders Farooq Sattar, Babar Ghauri, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and Karachi Nazim Mustafa Kamal had also attended. The sources said MQM had demanded at least six ministries on the basis of its strength in both houses of parliament.

They said the reshuffle was expected in the next few days and the portfolios of some federal and state ministers were likely to be changed, while some could even be relieved of their duties due to unsatisfactory performance. They said Minister for Special Initiatives Lal Muhammad Khan, Minister of State for Ports and Shipping Nabeel Gabol, Water and Power Minister Pervaiz Ashraf and some other state ministers might be given additional portfolios.