Interim set-up: Seven-member Sindh cabinet takes oath

CM reiterates his commitment to hold free and fair elections

KARACHI: After a few days of controversy over the appointment of cabinet members, the Sindh caretaker government finally inducted on Friday seven ministers who were administered oath by Governor Mohamamd Zubair at a ceremony held at Governor House.

The ceremony was attended by Caretaker Chief Minister Fazlur Rehman, Inspector-General of Police Allah Dino Khowaja, Planning and Development Board Chairperson Mohammad Waseem, senior sitting and retired bureaucrats and members of civil society. Chief Secretary Rizwan Memon conducted the ceremony.

The seven ministers include former food minister Khair Mohammad Junejo, former IG Mushtaq Ahmed Shah, Jameel Yusuf, Dr Junaid Shah who is the son of former sports minister Mohammad Ali Shah, Col (retd) Dost Mohammad Chandio, Dr Sadia Virk Rizvi and Simon John Daniel.

Earlier, the reports circulating in the media said that names of around 18 ministers and five advisers in the caretaker government had been finalised and most of them belonged to the Pakistan Peoples Party and Muttahida Qaumi Movement - Pakistan. This irked other political parties who not only protested against it but also threatened to boycott the polls.

Commenting on the cabinet size, a government officer said there was a possibility that the size of the cabinet would be increased, however, it was too early to say how many more ministers or advisers would be appointed.



After the oath-taking ceremony, the CM along with his cabinet members visited Mazar-e-Quaid to pay tribute to the father of nation. Rehman laid a wreath on the mazar, offered fateha and recorded his impressions in the visitors' book.

Speaking to the media, the CM said he had formed a balanced cabinet, inducting non-political and respectable persons. The objective of the government is to hold free and fair elections in a peaceful atmosphere, he added.

The CM remarked that it was a matter of honour for Sindh that it was the first province to appoint the caretaker chief minister. Likewise, Sindh became the first province to induct the caretaker cabinet, he said.

"My cabinet is balanced and comprises apolitical persons who command respect in society and we have no agenda except holding free, fair and transparent elections in a conducive atmosphere in which all political party can participate freely," Rehman said, adding that during his short tenure, he would try his best to establish good governance for which he has given clear instruction to all the government departments.

Responding to a question, Rehman said there were 40 departments in the Sindh government but only seven ministers were inducted because the caretaker government had to only perform day-to-day routine work for which a small cabinet was good enough.  However, he added that "yes, we can induct one or two more, if needed".



To another query, the CM replied that he had chaired two meetings for the proper distribution of irrigation water in order to ensure that tail-end areas received their due share of water.

 

Portfolios of ministers

Soon after the oath-taking ceremony, portfolios were also announced for the ministers. Each caretaker minister was given multiple departments.

According to a notification issued by the services, general administration and coordination department, Junejo was given the ministry of agriculture, supply and price department, cooperative department. He was also given the charge of forests, wildlife, livestock and fisheries departments.  Mushtaq was allotted irrigation, interprovincial coordination, public health engineering, rural development, and works and services departments.

The departments of environment and climate change, coastal development, information and archives, information science technology, law and parliamentary affairs were given to Yusuf.

Dr. Junaid will look after the culture, tourism, antiquities, energy, sports and youth affairs departments, while  Col (retd) Chandio was  given the portfolio of minerals, rehabilitation, transport and mass transit departments.

Dr Rizvi was given the charge of the college education, population welfare, primary health, secondary health, social welfare, special education, women development, and universities and boards departments, while Daniel was allotted human rights, katchi abadis, labour and minority affairs departments.



The important portfolios of finance, education, health, local government and excise and taxation along with home ministry will remain with the CM.

 

Election complain cell

The CM has also set up a General Election Complain and Coordination Cell at CM House to receive public complaints regarding the election activities and to coordinate with relevant authorities and cells established by district administrations.

The complain cell will submit a daily report to the CM. People can lodge complaints to the cell via telephone numbers 021-99202051-4, 99207349-99207568, 99202065 and fax [phone] and 9202000.

Chief Minister Secretariat Coordination Deputy Secretary Kashif Hussain has been appointed as the incharge of the cell under overall supervision of the CM House coordination secretary.