Justice Saeeduz Zaman sworn-in as Sindh governor

The appointment was made after the removal of Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan as Sindh governor

Justice (retd) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui took oath on Friday as the 31^st Governor of Sindh, two days after Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan was removed from his position.

Chief Justice Sindh High Court Justice Sajjad Ali Shah administered oath to the new governor at a ceremony held at the Governor's House.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved Siddiqui’s appointment which was later notified by President Mamnoon Hussain. The decision for the change was reportedly made during a recent meeting between the president and the prime minister.

Later, talking to media, the former Justice said restoration of law and order in Karachi would be his first priority. “I will try my best to address the issues of people,” he said.



On Thursday, Dr Ishratul Ebad told media that he wasn't removed over any allegations as is the speculation. He added that he considers and accepts the decision as a prerogative of the federation.

Ebad also said he planned to write a book wherein he will pen down his memories and experiences as Sindh governor for the last 14 years. The former governor further said he has not decided to return to politics, saying he will let everyone know when he makes such a decision.

Ebad was recently engulfed in a controversy after Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) leader Syed Mustafa Kamal hurled several accusations at him during a press conference in Karachi.



Kamal had alleged that Khan was in contact with and assisting Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) founding chief Altaf Hussain and leader Farooq Sattar. He went on to call the governor ‘rishwat-ul-Ibad’, alleging that Khan would never miss any chance of taking bribes in cases such as land grabbing.

The MQM, when not divided in three factions i.e. Pakistan, London and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), had asked Ebad to resign in May, 2015, nearly three months after the Rangers raided party headquarters Nine Zero.

Ebad was regarded as a bridge between security establishment, Sindh and federal governments and the MQM, even though his tenure followed political controversies stemming from serious accusations.

PML-N leader Nehal Hashmi speaks out

Reacting to Ishratul Ebad’s removal as Sindh governor, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nehal Hashmi termed it “the last remains of terrorism departing the Governor’s House.” According to Hashmi, founding chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had sent a man representing a terrorist organisation to the Governor House 14 years ago.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Communication Maryam Aurangzeb said Nehal Hashmi’s statement did not represent the government or the PML-N, saying it was his personal opinion.

Nisar terms Bilawal ‘non-serious child’

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan termed the PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari a “non-serious child”, claiming the latter knew nothing about politics.

“Bilawal is a non-serious child who does not even know the basics of politics,” Nisar told journalists in Islamabad on Friday. The minister expressed his surprise on “a 27-year-old leading a large political party”.

Earlier in the day, the PPP chairman had slammed the federal government for replacing the Sindh governor without even consulting the opposition parties. “Appointing new governor without even a courtesy call to @drishratulebad or #CmSindh - Trying to preserve his #Badshaahat. #Sharifistan,” Bilawal tweeted.

Appointing new governor without even a courtesy call to @drishratulebad or #CmSindh - Trying to preserve his #Badshaahat. #Sharifistan https://t.co/rBIy4Sq33j

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) November 11, 2016