As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet finally takes oath in the first phase Tuesday, Auon Chaudhry also became part of the federal cabinet.
According to multiple media reports, the Cabinet Division drafted a summary for the appointment of Auon Chaudhry, a member of the Jahangir Khan Tareen (JKT) group, as Adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Youth Affairs.
This is a rather interesting development as Aun Chaudhry was a close associate of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. However, Aun Chaudhry threw his weight behind ‘estranged’ PTI leader Jahangir Khan Tareen after relations between the latter and Imran Khan turned sour.
ترین گروپ کو مرکز میں اہم ذمہ داری دینے کا فیصلہ!!!
ترین گروپ کے مرکزی رہنما عون چوئدری کو وزیر اعظم کا مشیر بنانے کا فیصلہ !!وزیر اعظم کے مشیر کی حیثیت سے عون چوہدری اپنی ذمہ داریاں سرانجام دیں گے !!! pic.twitter.com/CkDVC1AI2S— Abbas Shabbir (@Abbasshabbir72) April 19, 2022
Moreover, PML-N even accused Auon Chaudhry of supplying drugs to Lahore’s elite parties. A video of PML-N’s Atta Tarar regarding this is making the rounds on social media amid news of Auon Chaudhry’s appointment. In the video, Atta Tarar is calling for an inquiry against Auon Chaudhry. Furthermore, Atta Tarar also demanded a blood test for Auon Chaudhry.
Read more: Jahangir Tareen group announces support for PML-N’s Hamza Shehbaz
عون چوہدری بارے عطا تارڑ کا بیان pic.twitter.com/oLgIrWl562
— M Azhar Siddique (@AzharSiddique) April 19, 2022
Fulfilling promises?
The appointment of Auon Chaudhry has certainly baffled many owing to PML-N’s strong stance against Auon.
On the other hand, PML-N and PPP promised coalition parties key ministries in exchange for their support in the no-confidence motion against Imran Khan. In fact, PPP Chairman Asif Zardari advised Shehbaz Sharif to give cabinet positions to all the coalition partners in the first phase. Perhaps, with the appointment of Auon Chaudhry, PML-N is fulfilling its commitment to the JKT Group.
Important to note, the swearing-in ceremony of the federal cabinet took place today at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad. Members belonging to PML-N, PPP, JUI-F, MQM-P, and other allied parties took the oath as ministers in the federal cabinet.
In the first phase, 31 federal ministers and three state ministers took the oath. Apart from Auon Chaudhry, other advisers to the PM are Amir Muqam and Qamar Zaman Kaira. President Dr. Arif Alvi approved the appointments.
Read more: Civil matters have been converted into criminal charges against me: JKT