Playing favourites?: Sharmila becomes special assistant to CM
Nadia Gabol inducted as coordinator to CM for human rights.
Faruqui. who has earlier worked as an information adviser, will have the status of a minister.
KARACHI:
The Sindh government has appointed Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Sharmila Faruqui as the special assistant on culture and tourism to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.
According to a government notification, Faruqui who has earlier worked as an information adviser, will have the status of a minister. However, former Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Nadia Gabol, who recently joined the PPP, has also been inducted in the Sindh cabinet as the coordinator to the chief minister for human rights. Gabol has worked in the department as a minister in the last government when the PPP and the MQM were coalition partners.
After the 18th Amendment, the size of the provincial cabinet should stand at 11 per cent of the total members of Sindh Assembly, allowing the government to appoint 18 ministers and five advisers. But, the Sindh government currently has 19 ministers, two advisers, nine special assistants, four coordinators and one political secretary.
Meanwhile, a new post - parliamentary secretary - has been created in Sindh where around four MPAs of the ruling party have been appointed. These MPAs have been given portfolios in order to assist the relevant ministers. Pir Mazharul Haq’s son Pir Mujeebul Haq, former district nazim of Sukkur Nasir Shah, Dr Sikandar Ali Shoro and Fayaaz Butt have been appointed on these positions.
Members of opposition parties claimed these steps were taken to appease some people in the government. “Since the government cannot appoint more than the stated number of ministers and advisers after the 18 Amendment, these new posts are being created to accommodate people,” said Pakistan Muslim League- Functional’s Imtiaz Shaikh. Information minister Sharjeel Memon said the provincial government was acting according to the law. “It is the chief minister’s discretion to appoint his special assistants and coordinators.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2013.
The Sindh government has appointed Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Sharmila Faruqui as the special assistant on culture and tourism to Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah.
According to a government notification, Faruqui who has earlier worked as an information adviser, will have the status of a minister. However, former Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Nadia Gabol, who recently joined the PPP, has also been inducted in the Sindh cabinet as the coordinator to the chief minister for human rights. Gabol has worked in the department as a minister in the last government when the PPP and the MQM were coalition partners.
After the 18th Amendment, the size of the provincial cabinet should stand at 11 per cent of the total members of Sindh Assembly, allowing the government to appoint 18 ministers and five advisers. But, the Sindh government currently has 19 ministers, two advisers, nine special assistants, four coordinators and one political secretary.
Meanwhile, a new post - parliamentary secretary - has been created in Sindh where around four MPAs of the ruling party have been appointed. These MPAs have been given portfolios in order to assist the relevant ministers. Pir Mazharul Haq’s son Pir Mujeebul Haq, former district nazim of Sukkur Nasir Shah, Dr Sikandar Ali Shoro and Fayaaz Butt have been appointed on these positions.
Members of opposition parties claimed these steps were taken to appease some people in the government. “Since the government cannot appoint more than the stated number of ministers and advisers after the 18 Amendment, these new posts are being created to accommodate people,” said Pakistan Muslim League- Functional’s Imtiaz Shaikh. Information minister Sharjeel Memon said the provincial government was acting according to the law. “It is the chief minister’s discretion to appoint his special assistants and coordinators.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2013.