Murad discusses cabinet reshuffle with Zardari

A recent SHC verdict against provincial advisers also came under discussion

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has discussed with former president Asif Ali Zardari the situation arising out of the Sindh High Court’s verdict and changes in the Sindh cabinet.

The SHC judgement has left the fate of four advisers and 17 special assistants to the chief minister hanging in the balance. Declaring as illegal the appointment of CM’s law adviser Barrister Murtaza Wahab, the SHC ruled that the use of executive authority by an adviser was unconstitutional.



Though the Sindh government has decided to challenge the decision in the apex court, the chief minister has asked all his advisers and special assistants to stop attending offices till further orders.



The Sindh CM along with Murtaza Wahab, whose appointment as adviser on law and order was declared illegal by the SHC, left for Dubai on Thursday to brief the former president about the latest political situation in the country, particularly in Sindh.

Earlier, sources in the Sindh government said: “The Dubai caucus would focus on nominating an election-oriented cabinet comprising mainly of elected representatives.”

“In addition, 100 days performance of the newly-appointed chief minister and reshuffle in bureaucracy will also be discussed in the meeting.”

Moreover, Zardari’s return to the country and preparation for the 49th founding day of the PPP (to be observed in Lahore on November 30) would also come up for discussion.

“The chief minister is the focal person of the party to talk to the establishment on behalaf of Zardari on the issue of his return to Pakistan,” a senior PPP leader, requesting not to be named, said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, CM’s Adviser on Information Moula Bux Chandio, while commenting on changes in the Sindh cabinet, said it is the chief minister’s prerogative to reshuffle his cabinet. “The decisions are made with consultation of the leadership. That is why the chief minister has gone to Dubai,” he said.



He, however, criticised the judiciary for targeting the PPP government and said, “The petition was filed only against the law adviser, but the court gave its verdict against all special assistants and advisers. This has left us puzzled,” he said, complaining, “Why is action not taken against advisers in other provinces?”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th, 2016.