Murad Ali Shah touted as next Sindh CM

Formal announcement for Sindh CM nomination will be made at a party meeting today

KARACHI: The PPP will today (Tuesday) announce the new Chief Minister for Sindh at a meeting summoned at Bilawal House Karachi where the incumbent Qaim Ali Shah is expected to hand in his resignation.

PPP had decided during a high-level meeting in Dubai on Sunday to shuffle the Sindh cabinet and bring in a new chief minister.

Since the announcement on Sunday evening, a number of reports have been circulating as to who will replace Qaim. Senior Minister for Finance Murad Ali Shah is being touted as the most likely pick.



Other reports, pertaining to the shakeup in the Sindh cabinet, suggest that Home Minster Sohail Anwar Siyal and Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Culture and Tourism Sharmila Farooqui may be removed.

The names of Senior Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Food Minister Nasir Shah and Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani are being tipped for the home minister slot. Provincial environment minister Dr Sikandar Mandhro is rumoured to take over the seat speaker.

However, party sources have refused to confirm the reports.

“There will be changes in cabinet. We only heard about these names through the media,” a cabinet member told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity.

“Believe me, no names have been decided on so far.”

Murad, too remained coy when newsmen asked whether he had thrown his name in the hat for the post.



“No name has been finalised. The party leadership will decide about it,” Murad said after he returned to Karachi on Monday after attending the party meeting in Dubai.

Will accept party decision

Earlier on Monday as Qaim arrived in Karachi from Dubai, said that he will accept the party’s decision on his future.

”I have no authority to nominate any person for this position [Sindh Chief Minister], so I cannot tell you. This will be decided by the party chairman soon,” he said.

Asked about his performance in the province, Qaim said, “Let the people decide how I served them.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2016.