KARACHI, May 25: Contrary to parliamentary traditions, Sindh Assembly Speaker Syed Muzaffar Hussein Shah on Thursday took oath as acting governor of Sindh despite the fact that the chief justice of the Sindh High Court, Sabihuddin Ahmed, was in the country.

Justice Ahmed administered the oath to Mr Shah at a simple ceremony at the Governor’s House.

Judges of the Sindh High Court, provincial ministers, secretaries and other provincial high-ups also attended the ceremony.

Syed Muzzaffer Hussein Shah will act as governor in the absence of Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan who has gone to London on a three-day visit to discuss the simmering political situations with MQM chief Altaf Hussein.

Political circles termed the appointment of the speaker a dramatic step because in line with parliamentary traditions, speaker acts as acting governor only when the chief justice of the high court is not in the country. —Online