KARACHI: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan arrived at the Governor’s House here in Karachi Tuesday after a 10-day stay in the UAE. Immediately after his return, Ibad summoned a meeting to review the law and order situation in the city.

Ibad had departed for Dubai on Sept 13 amid speculation in the media that he had tendered his resignation following yet another row between his party, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) over an operation that has seen a former MQM lawmaker and activists being arrested.

Ibad, who is used to vacating the Governor House every time a row erupts between the PPP and the MQM, was reported to have left the country over his perceived failure to end raids on MQM strongholds — even the area close to the party headquarters nine-zero — and arrest of former lawmaker Nadeem Hashmi.

The MQM dubbed the operation as one-sided action against its office bearers.

On his immediate arrival to Karachi today, the Sindh governor contacted Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss matters relating to the law and order situation of Sindh’s provincial capital.

Under the 18th amendment in the constitution, the president appoints and accepts the resignation of a governor on the advice of the prime minister. A summary in this regard is moved by the Prime Minister Office and sent to the Presidency. The prime minister’s spokesman Mohiuddin Wani and the presidential spokesman Muhammad Sarfaraz had confirmed to Dawn that no summary regarding Dr Ibad’s resignation had been moved by the PM Office.

According to an MQM spokesman, Ibad had gone to the UAE on a personal visit, which was approved by President Mamnoon Hussain. MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil had said that Ibad had undertaken the “personal visit” because of his wife’s indisposition.