Members of Sindh caretaker setup taking oath. PHOTO: ONLINE
The 18-member Sindh caretaker cabinet took oath at the Governor’s House on Saturday.
The cabinet, including 16 ministers and two advisors, was sworn in by Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, in the presence of caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Zahid Qurban Alvi and other dignitaries.
The inducted ministers include eminent Sindhi writer Noorul Huda Shah, rights activist Anees Haroon, Nawab Qalb Hussain Lahori, Mehmood Mandviwala, Raes Ghulam Qasim Jiskani, Junaid Shah, Dr NK Lohano, Yaseen Malik, Sardar Khan Ghoto, Khalid Latif, Shabir Zaidi, Shakaib Ahmed Qureshi, Sharif Ansari, Abdul Qadir Chohan, Iqbal Dawood Pakwala and Khalid Tawab.
Mian Zahid, from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Haroon Farooqui have been appointed as advisors to the chief minister.
According to the CM house spokesperson, the portfolio of ministers and advisors will be allotted soon.
Together, the cabinet members make a diverse group.
Noorul Huda Shah belongs to the Syed family of the Hyderabad district. She gained popularity by exposing landlords and feudals who victimise women and the downtrodden. Dramas written by her, including Marvi, Jungle, Faaslay, and Tapish, were among the main serials telecasted on the state owned Pakistan Television (PTV).
Anees Haroon is the co-founder of the Aurat Foundation and chairperson of the national commission on the status of women. She worked for human and women rights during generals Ziaul Haq and Musharraf’s tenures.
Sardar Khan Ghoto belongs to Ghotki district and has served twice as taluka nazim. Being a chieftain of his tribe, he is a close friend of the Mahar brothers who have recently joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). His family is known in the district for its social welfare activities.
Junaid Shah, an orthopaedic surgeon and owner of AO clinic, is son of the late Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, a Muttahida Quami Movement MPA who served as sports minister in the outgoing provincial government and passed away in February this year.
Iqbal Dawood Pakwala hails from a business family in Sukkur. He has also served as naib nazim of the district. He was also the Flour Mills Association president (Sindh chapter) and has recently applied for PPP ticket.
Dr NK Lohano is from a landowning family in Kunri, Umerkot. He has been affiliated with the medical profession for the last forty years and is an active member of the Hindu Panchayat.
Nawab Qalb Hussain Lahori, also a landlord, belongs to Lahori Mohalla, Larkana, and is the brother-in-law of former prime minister Muhammad Khan Junejo. His family has considerable influence in Larkana city.
Sardar Yasin Malik is the owner of pharmaceutical company Hilton Pharma, while Dr Khalid Latif is a child specialist in Hyderabad.
Shakaib Ahmed Qureshi, a senior official in the police, was implicated in the Mir Murtaza Bhutto murder case, but was later acquitted. Recently he joined the Sindh Revenue Board as chairman.
Ghulam Qasim Jiskani belongs to a landed family of Khairpur Mirs and has earlier served on the Sindh Abadgar Board.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2013.
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