Resignation accepted: Sindh gets new CM on Friday

PPP’s plan to elect Murad Ali Shah unopposed marred by opposition

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan accepted on Wednesday Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah's resignation, paving the way for senior minister Murad Ali Shah to take over the reins of the provincial government.

The cabinet was dissolved with the CM's resignation, as the new provincial chief executive will make his own cabinet.

Murad, Sindh Assembly speaker Agha Siraj Durrani and senior minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro had accompanied the outgoing CM when he tendered his resignation to the governor. "I have summoned the assembly session on Friday where the CM-nominee will get a vote of confidence," the governor told the media after the meeting.

He said after the CM's election, the oath-taking ceremony will also take place the same day at Governor House at around 7pm. Till the election of the new CM, Qaim will continue as the acting CM to look after the government's affairs. "The cabinet has been dissolved but, given a constitutional requirement, I have requested the CM to work for two more days as the CM's office cannot be left vacant," the governor explained.

Khan appreciated the outgoing CM's 'smooth' stint for the last eight years. "[Qaim] played a dignified role in the volatile province and I am confident that Murad will pursue the same policy," Khan said.

The decision to remove Qaim was made in Dubai, where most of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership is presently based, and Murad's name was officially announced by party chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari at Bilawal House on Tuesday night after consultation with lawmakers and party leaders of every district.

After the acceptance of the CM's resignation, the assembly speaker has asked all the opposition parties to nominate their candidate for the slot by Thursday.  Only the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has three members in the assembly, is willing to contest the election while the rest of the opposition parties are still undecided. "I will contest the election against Murad because our party has nominated me," PTI MPA Khurrum Sher Zaman told The Express Tribune.

Sources privy to the development said the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) approached the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) to field a candidate against Murad with their support, but PML-F chief Pir Pagara, a relative of Murad, has already extended his unconditional support to him. "We will decide on it tomorrow," said PML-F parliamentary leader Nand Kumar.

An MQM leader, requesting anonymity, said that the party may not field its candidate if Murad Ali Shah assures them of resolving their issues. “This will be decided in today’s meeting,” he said.Meanwhile, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, MQM's Khawaja Izharul Hasan, said they had convened a parliamentary party meeting on Thursday (today) to decide their candidate. A similar response was given by PML-Nawaz's parliamentary leader, Shafi Jamote.

There will be an open vote, by raising of hands or standing up in favour or against the candidate contesting the slot of the leader of the house.

There are a total of 168 members in the assembly, 91 belong to PPP, 50 to MQM, 11 to PML-F, nine to PML-N and three to PTI. Four of the seats are vacant due to reasons of death, disqualification and resignation, according to assembly record. The total number of opposition members stands at 73 against PPP's 91. Two PPP MPAs, Sharjeel Memon and Owais Muzaffar, will not be able to participate in the election as they are out of the country. The party still enjoys a simple majority with 16 extra votes than the opposition. "The party with a simple majority can win the election," said assembly secretary GM Umar Farooq.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2016.