Sindh Cabinet meets at the CM House on Tuesday. PHOTO: NNI
The Sindh government has finally decided to appoint a home minister in Sindh after the post had been lying vacant for the last three years.
The coveted post is likely to be given to Jam Mehtab Dahar, who is currently working as health minister, said an official privy to the development. "It has been decided in principle to appoint Dahar as home minister and the notification will be issued soon," he told The Express Tribune. The decision has apparently been made on the recommendations of the apex committee that executes the National Action Plan in the province.
Information Minister Sharjeel Memon confirmed that the home minister has been appointed but refused to share his name. "The government will issue a notification soon in light of the current law and order situation in the province and operation being carried out by the police and law enforcement agencies," he said.
After the resignation of Manzoor Wasan in 2012, the provincial government had not appointed a home minister in Sindh and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was holding the charge. Officials at CM House denied claims that the slot was being given to Memon. "The apex committee members wanted a fully fledged minister and a consensus was reached over Dahar."
Dahar, who belongs to Ghotki district, has been a party loyalist for several years. He worked as revenue minister in the last Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government. After the general elections in 2013, Dahar was given the food department portfolio and later took over the health department in the wake of the drought and subsequent deaths in Tharparkar.
Further reshuffling
Apart from Dahar's appointment, reshuffling is also expected in the Sindh cabinet. "The portfolios of food, health, culture, social welfare as well as women development departments will given to other PPP MPAs," said an official. "The appointment of special assistants and coordinators has been challenged in court, which is why the government has decided to remove them."
The Sindh cabinet comprises 18 ministers, an adviser, 13 special assistants to the chief minister and four coordinators. All special assistants with portfolios will be asked to give up their positions, an official confirmed. These include: CM's co-ordinator on human rights Nadia Gabol, special assistant to CM on youth affairs Ehsanur Rehman Mazari, special assistant to CM on social welfare Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and special assistant to CM on culture Sharmila Farooqi.
These officials are, however, willing to accept the party's decision. Lanjar told The Express Tribune that any decision made by the party is acceptable.
Some officials disclosed that the PPP leadership wanted to remove the chief minister but the prime minister opposed it. During a recent meeting with Zardari at Governor House, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the government's entire counter-terrorism exercise will be disturbed if the CM is replaced. Sharif did, however, ask for a hardworking home minister.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2015.
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