Settling in: Justice (retd) Alvi sworn in as new CM

Caretaker chief minister says he is committed to controlling violence in Karachi.

KARACHI:

Justice (Retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi was sworn in by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad as Sindh’s caretaker chief minister at Governor House on Thursday.

While speaking at the ceremony, he said that he was committed to controlling the violence in Karachi and to holding free and fair elections.

Members of some of the opposition parties have bitterly criticised Alvi’s political affiliation with the previous government and have even decided to challenge his selection in court. Alvi, who feels that he was appointed on merit, said that the opposition could “go to court if they thought that the appointment was unjustified.”



A number of leaders, including former chief minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, were present at the occasion. Speaking to the media after the event, the governor announced that the elections will be held on May 11.

Alvi met some officials, including Chief Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan and Police IG Ghulam Shabir Shaikh at CM House, on his first day. He told Shaikh to formulate a strategy to reduce violence in Sindh and to keep tabs on criminals operating in Karachi. He also asked him to ensure that police officials were deployed at all important places, including the commercial centres, in the province. He also paid a visit to the Quaid’s mausoleum.

A senior official, Naveed Kamran Baloch, has been appointed as secretary to the chief minister.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2013.