'Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad expected to resign within 48 hours'

Ebad later denied reports of resigning, saying “there is no pressure on me [to resign]. I am doing my job”

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad will resign within the next 48 hours, sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune.

The development comes after Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar called the governor early Thursday morning.

“The federal government has given him [Ebad] a clear message to tender his resignation. Otherwise, they will remove him from the post forcefully,” sources privy to the development said, adding that the decision would be made in the next 48 hours.

Further, the source added, Ishratul Ebad has begun consultations with friends and constitutional experts over his resignation.

On the other hand, the spokesman for the Governor House denied reports of Ebad’s resignation, saying, “The governor is currently presiding over a meeting and no decision has so far been made about his resignation.”

Ebad, while speaking to Geo Television later in the evening, denied reports of resigning.

“Neither me nor the MQM wants me to resign…,” he said. “There is no pressure on me [to resign]. I am doing my job”

Speculations regarding Ebad's resignation come hours after death row convict and former MQM worker Saulat Mirza confessed that the Sindh governor provided protection to criminals and party workers in police stations.

Read: Shocking revelations: MQM chief ordered KESC director’s assassination, claims Saulat

The sources went on to add that Ebad is scheduled to go for pilgrimage within the next two days and will resign before he leaves.

According to the video released by a private television channel late on Wednesday, Mirza alleged that he received the order for a ‘hit’ on KESC's managing director from Altaf while sitting at MQM leader Babar Ghauri’s residence.

Mirza revealed that orders were given on the telephone by the party chief himself. Usually, the party chief would either give orders himself or through the likes of Babar Ghauri.

Earlier, sources told The Express Tribune, the interior ministry is attempting to add the names of senior MQM leaders on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Read: Interior ministry seeks to place senior MQM leaders on ECL: sources

The interior ministry directed airport authorities to monitor the movement of Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad, also in bid to bar him from travelling. Although, the ministry reportedly decided against placing his name on the ECL.

When asked an official whether Ebad has been placed on the ECL, he said, "If so, Dr Ibad will be the first sitting governor in Pakistan on the ECL list."

Ebad is the longest serving governor in the history of Sindh. He assumed charge in 2002 and this is his third term in office as governor Sindh.