Durrani’s honeymoon at Nazim House set to be cut short

As politics of reconciliation between the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) ring the air, the Sindh chief minister has directed the Local Government minister to immediately vacate the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) Nazim’s House.
After the revival of commissionerate system in Sindh after a period of almost ten years, the Sindh government took over the Nazim’s House, the official residence of CDGK head, located along the Pir Sibghatullah Shah Rashidi Road.
Last year on March 2, former city nazim Mustafa Kamal formally handed over the residence and vehicles to the newly-appointed city administrator. All the accessories at the Nazim’s House were also handed over to him.
Since then, the house remained in the use of Karachi Administrator Lala Fazlur Rehman, who, after the restoration of commissionerate system, was directed to report to the provincial government’s Services, General Administration and Coordination Department (SGA&CD). As soon as the notification for the revival of commissioner system was issued, the Sindh government got the Nazim’s House vacated from Rehman within two days. The city administrator’s signboard was also removed and a new board with the name of Local Government minister installed at the spot. A heavy contingent of law enforcement personnel was also deployed at the Nazim’s House and Sindh Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani started using it as his Camp Office.
However, as the PPP took back its decision and reinstated the Sindh Local Government Ordinance, 2001, Rehman – allegedly backed by the MQM – is again at the helm and Durrani has been asked by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah to immediately vacate the house for the city administrator.