KARACHI – Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah made an unusual declaration on Friday – at a press conference convened at the Chief Minister’s House to welcome three politicians into the fold of the Pakistan People’s Party’s (PPP)Sindh party, Shah claimed that the Election Commission of Pakistan will decide whether to form an interim government or a caretaker one to conduct the forthcoming general elections.
It was first time that the provincial president of the ruling PPP has spoken of the possible structure of next polls.
What makes the statement unusual is that it was made merely hours after party chief, President Asif Ali Zardari left the city. Two days before the CM’s press conference, President Zardari had summoned all MPAs of the party at the Bilawal House, and directed them to head back to their constituencies to connect with the people of their areas. The president had also paid a surprise visit to the Torhi Bund to inspect work on plugging its breach.
Friday’s statement has fanned the perception that the PPP leadership has taken stock of the rapidly changing political situation in the country, ostensibly in preparation for the next elections. The CM, however, also said that the government would complete its constitutional tenure and that polls will be held after two years.
Shah claimed that the government itself would not form a caretaker government as fingers could be raised against them.
“This is the domain of the Election Commission of Pakistan, and it would be up to them to appoint a caretaker government or an interim government under the President,” he argued. The CM also ruled out the possibility of downsizing in his cabinet, arguing that he had no plans to “right-size or down-size” his ministers. He argued that the government had done some home work on downsizing the cabinet, but all plans had to be shelved after the Federal cabinet’s experience and Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s episode.
Meanwhile, the focus of the press conference – PML-Q’s Abdul Hameed Sundrani, Asfandyar Domki, and PML-F’s former MNA Pir Noor Muhammad Shah – were welcomed by Shah, President Zardari’s sister and the party MNA, Faryal Talpur, as well as other key leaders of the party’s provincial chapter. Sundrani and Domki belong to Kashmore, while Pir Noor Muhammad Shah belongs to Tando Allahyar but has political influence in District Tharparkar.
