27 February 2005	Sunday	17 Muharram 1426

HYDERABAD, Feb 26: The vice-president of the Pakistan Muslim League, Dr Shafiq Arain, and other party leaders have strongly protested against the 'crude manner' in which Sindh Revenue Minister Imtiaz Ahmad Shaikh was sacked by Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.

Speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Saturday, they demanded that an inquiry should also be held into allegations levelled by Mr Shaikh against the chief minister and an acting chief minister be appointed to ensure transparency of investigations into the matter.

Dr Arain observed that removal of Mr Shaikh on corruption charges without discussing the issue with party leaders was violation not only of party discipline but also of moral, political and legal norms.

He said Dr Rahim had not taken the Sindh cabinet, party's provincial office-bearers, the prime minister, PML chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain or any central leader into confidence before removing sacking Mr Shaikh.

He termed the removal of Mr Shaikh a midnight attack on the party and said the PML had suffered an irreparable loss due to the chief minister's action. This had shocked party office-bearers and activists and the party had plunged into a chaos, he added.