KARACHI, Dec 1: Syed Mustafa Kamal, belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, has taken oath as provincial minister for information technology. However, Sindh governor Ishratul Ibad has ruled out the possibility of any change in the provincial government setup saying that there is no reason for such step. Sindh chief minister Ali Mohammed Mahar has also ruled out any further expansion in the existing Cabinet.

Mustafa Kamal was administered oath by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad at a swearing-in ceremony held at the Governor House on Monday.

The oath-taking ceremony was attended, among others, by Sindh Chief Minister Ali Mohammed Mahar. Provincial ministers, advisers, Chief Secretary Dr Mutawakkal Kazi, Deputy Speaker Sindh Assembly Raheela Tiwana, members of provincial assembly, provincial secretaries and senior officials of Sindh government also attended the ceremony.

Talking to newsmen after the ceremony, the chief minister ruled out any further expansion in the existing Cabinet. He said that the induction of new minister was in place of Mr Yakub Ilyas and not a new addition.

He said that the MQM, a coalition partner in the government, felt the need to induct Syed Mustafa Kamal to better the functioning of the ministry of information technology.

The chief minister said that the Punjab government had the capacity to add more ministers in Cabinet, but, the Sindh government did not have the capacity for further expansion.

Mr Mahar said that he was satisfied with the performance of Sindh Assembly and the opposition was doing their job. He said that people could judge their performance.

When his attention was drawn to complaints regarding distribution of relief in flood-affected areas, the chief minister said that the government had done as much as possible for providing succour to the victims and more would be done for them. He said that he would be visiting the affected areas in the next few days again and would give more funds for rehabilitation of people.

He admitted that problem did occur in many areas, but, the government would certainly do everything possible for the affected people.

Meanwhile, the governor also ruled out the possibility of any change in the provincial government saying that there was no reason for such step.

“The present coalition government is working well and rumours or speculations in this respect are baseless,” he said while responding to newsmen queries after administering oath to Mr Kamal.

Regarding the maintenance of law and order, the governor said that there had always been certain incidents taking place during the Eid festivities, but this time it was peaceful and the citizens enjoyed the holidays without any tension. “This is ample proof of the fact that the government succeeded in maintaining the peace and tranquillity,” he added.

About the ongoing tussle between Jamaat-i-Islami and Muttahida Qaumi Movement on the issue of extortion, the governor said that the first ordinance, he issued, was against the extortion to curb this menace. Since then, the governor said, he had been personally monitoring its strict enforcement. “There is no complaint about extortion from any quarter, as I have been visiting personally the shopping centres and asking from the shopkeepers and other traders,” he said.

He said that such allegations were being made on the basis of wrong information.

On slow process of legislation, particularly with regard to pending bills in provincial assembly, Dr Ibad said laws were amended as per requirement and certain bills had already been tabled in the House.

When asked, he expressed satisfaction on the overall performance of the provincial government and said that major improvement could only be visible after certain time. —APP/PPI