Zubair’s appointment: PPP not consulted, claims Khuhro

The chief minister sindh acknowledged it was the centre’s prerogative and agreed to Muhammad Zubair’s selection

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz did not take Sindh’s ruling Pakistan Peoples Party into confidence over the Sindh governor’s appointment, a top PPP figure claimed on Monday.

“The federal government did not consult us over this issue. It did not take us into confidence while appointing Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui either,” PPP Sindh President Nisar Khuhro told The Express Tribune. “It’s not legally binding [for the centre] but it would have been a good omen if we were consulted,” he said.

PPP sources, however, said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar did discuss the issue with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah when he was in Karachi a few days ago. “Dar told the chief minister about the premier’s decision. The chief minister acknowledged it was the centre’s prerogative and agreed to Muhammad Zubair’s selection,” a PPP insider said.

According to PML-N sources, the party’s central leadership also took its Sindh chapter into confidence this time around. They said PML-N Sindh leaders opposed Khawaja Qutubuddin but consented to Zubair’s appointment as his father, Maj Gen Ghulam Umar, was close to the late PML-F leader Shah Mardan Shah Pir Pagara.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2017.