PPP decides to change CM, reshuffle cabinet

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has decided in principle to change its chief minister in Sindh and bring changes in the provincial cabinet.

PPP spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar confirmed that the Sindh chief minister would be changed.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by former president Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Dubai on Sunday. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was also present in the meeting.

Babar said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would return home and meet senior PPP leaders and MPAs to before taking a final decision.

The spokesman did not speak about any other issue that came under discussion during the meeting.

Sources said Zardari had earlier instructed Chief Minister to extend the policing powers of Rangers only in Karachi. However, the PPP co-chairman was still reluctant to give Shah a go-ahead to expand Rangers authority to the whole of Sindh.

Sources said Syed Murad Ali Shah is strong candidate for the slot Chief Minister. He is highly likely to replace octogenarian Qaim Ali Shah.

Murad Ali Shah, son of the late former chief minister Abdullah Shah, did not contest the May 2013 general election. He was elected unopposed in a by-election from Jamshoro (PS-73) in November 2014 after he renounced his Canadian nationality.

At that time too, he was tipped as the next chief minister after Bhutto-Zardari threw his weight behind him.

Sindh cabinet shake-up

About reshuffle in the Sindh cabinet, source said, Sindh Local Bodies Minister Jam Khan Shoro, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and Special Assistant to Sindh Chief Minister for Culture and Tourism Sharmila Farooqui would not be part of new cabinet.

Report said Speaker Siraj Durrani and Education Minister Nisar Khuhro are in run for slot of Sindh Home Minister. Khuhro is also being considered for post of Finance Minister.

Sources said the party has decided to make Environment Minister Dr. Sikandar Mendhro new Sindh Speaker in replacement of Agha Siraj Durrani.

Presently Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza is likely to be made new Education Minister, if Khuhro left the portfolio.

Mujeeb-ul-Haq, the son of ex-PPP minister Pir Mazhar-ul-Haq, Nadir Magsi, Manzoor Wassan and Syed Nasir Ali Shah are also expected to be part of the new cabinet. - Samaa