New Finance Minister at 'suitable' time

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would continue interviewing prospective candidates aspirant to be next finance minister for quite some time as he intends to keep the portfolio till finalisation of the constitutional reforms.
Sources said, the PM wants to keep the Ministry under his direct purview to maintain his grip over the financial matters till the time powers from the President are transferred to him through the proposed constitutional amendments.
The sources claimed that the PM had vehemently resisted to the efforts on part of the Presidency to appoint one of his confidants, Nasim Baig. For some time the PM remained convinced to have Mukhdoom Shahabuddin as finance minister. However, the sources added that certain quarters within the ruling PPP did not approve the name.
Of late, the PM has interviewed Senator Waqar whose name was also forwarded by the Presidency as he had been considered to be nearer to the President than the Prime Minister.