PPP's Sohail Anwar Sial takes oath as Sindh home minister

KARACHI: Sindh government on Thursday appointed Pakistan Peoples Party MPA Sohail Anwar Sial as the province’s home minister, filling a post which had been lying vacant since before the incumbent government was reelected in 2013.

Sial was administered the oath by Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan on Thursday.  The ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, his cabinet members, lawmakers, diplomats and bureaucrats attended the ceremony.

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Sial had been elected from Larkana following by-elections and is a prominent member of the PPP.

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The portfolio was held by the chief minister since 2012 when Manzoor Wasan had resigned from the post.  After the May 2013 general elections, the government decided against appointing a full-time home minister, instead the seat was retained by the chief minister.

However, recent surge in terror attacks have compelled Sindh government to reverse its decision and appoint a formal home minister.
“Soon after the formation of National Action Plan, army leadership asked Sindh government to appoint home minister, but PPP government delayed it. The criticism after Safoora attack compelled government to appoint home minister,” sources in PPP said.

Apart from handling the home department, Sial will also carry the portfolio of prisons. Interestingly, it was Wasan who was handling prisons prior to Thursday’s announcement.

Meanwhile, the department of planning and development has been given to Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah. The chief minister was chairing this department for last seven years.