Sindh Cheif Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah to submit his resignation during the next 48 hours.
According to a source in the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Murad Ali Shah is likely to replace Qaim Ali Shah as the Sindh chief minister.
Earlier, during a meeting in Dubai on Sunday, the party’s top leadership has decided to bring changes in the Sindh cabinet, including bringing in a new chief minister.
Read more: Qaim not so ‘qaim’ anymore: major reshuffle in Sindh cabinet
PPP Spokesperson Senator Farhatullah Babar said the decision about changes in the Sindh cabinet was taken during a meeting of PPP leaders with party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari in Dubai. Sindh chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah was also present during the meeting.
Bilawal is scheduled to return to Karachi early this week after which he will meet PPP’s Sindh leaders and MPAs before finalising changes in the provincial cabinet.
Murad Ali Shah’s name had long been finalised as Sinch chief minister but was pending as the PPP co-chairman, Asif Zardari, wanted Qaim Ali Shah to continue.
Sources in the PPP claim Murad Ali Shah has proven his worth for a long time as a good administrator and also has an unblemished past. He has full backing from Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Murad Ali Shah was born in Tehsil Sehwan Sharif’s village on August 11, 1962. The minister studied MSC at California University and ardently participated in different activities of PPP.
He had worked as an assistant engineer in Hyderabad Development Authority in 1986 whereas he had also extended his services in Wapda as junior engineer till 1989.
In 1990, Shah was appointed as executive engineer in Port Qasim while he had also taken charge as project director in Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority.
The leader joined politics in 2002 and remained the member of Sindh Assembly till 2007. He was made Sindh Advisor in 2013 and took oath as Finance Minister after electing unopposed.
Murad Ali Shah’s father Syed Abdullah Shah had also served as chief minister.
-Law and order situation and Rangers Powers-
Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General and former Punjab governor Latif Khosa said on Sunday that the issue of Rangers’ extension in Sindh will be resolved soon.
Speaking to reporters in Dubai, former Punjab governor Latif Khosa said that the chief minister can constitutionally summon Rangers in aid of police in the province.
“Indeed, Rangers have done a fine job. However, it is wrong to say that police have not played any role.”
Khosa said that the issue of extension of the Rangers’ powers will soon be resolved “in the interest of the people”.
Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir also said that the issue of Rangers’ powers will be resolved within the next week.
-OTHER CHANGES-
According to the reports, Sharmila Farooqi and Interior Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal will not make it to the new cabinet.
Names of Nisar Khuhro and Agha Siraj Durrani are being considered for the slot of the Sindh interior minister.
Dr Sikandar Mandhro is expected to take the up responsibilities of Speaker Sindh Assembly. Currently, Agha Siraj Durrani is the speaker for the Sindh Assembly.