Change in Sindh

Published July 26, 2016

AFTER eight years at the helm, Qaim Ali Shah has been relieved of his position as Chief Minister Sindh by the PPP high command.

The decision was announced after the senior politician, along with other party leaders, was summoned to Dubai by Asif Zardari over the weekend. The move appears to be the outcome of pressures exerted by the security establishment on the Sindh government, as well as the PPP’s internal politics.

In fact, the real reason behind the dismissal may be Mr Zardari’s desire to make peace with the establishment. While his advanced age was often cited as an impediment to effective governance, the manner in which Shah Sahib was removed was unedifying; the removal of the senior politician who belongs to the PPP old guard — going back to the Zulfikar Ali Bhutto era — should have been handled in a more dignified manner.

This was Shah Sahib’s third stint as the chief minister, beginning in 2008 and continuing after the 2013 elections. While there were no allegations of corruption or other misdeeds against Qaim Ali Shah, it is clear that Sindh was hardly being run in an exemplary manner under his watch.

The popular perception — perhaps not too far from reality — was of a province suffering from neglect. A politicised police force; lack of local governments; law and order issues; and unenviable health and education figures all strengthened this perception. But, how much of the province’s governance was really in Mr Shah’s hands?

Sindh, apparently, was being run from two power centres, both unaccountable: the establishment exercised its control through the Rangers, while Mr Zardari, along with his family members, was calling the shots from the rarefied environs of the UAE. It is likely that the clash of egos between these two power centres cost Qaim Ali Shah his job.

Now that a new individual will take up residence in the Chief Minister House, Karachi, will Sindh’s governance improve, or will it simply be a change of face?

The fact is that the province’s myriad problems will not be solved unless its top elected official is answerable to the provincial legislature, not external actors. For example, where the law and order issue is concerned, police reform should be so thorough that the help of the Rangers is no longer needed to keep the peace in Sindh.

We hope the new chief minister takes up the province’s many challenges in a proactive manner, and is given the space to take independent decisions.

Foremost amongst the province’s issues are the tackling of lawlessness in Karachi and other districts, giving the green light for empowered local governments that can address the civic issues that plague Sindh’s cities and towns, as well as addressing health and education needs.

But until the style of governance changes — whether it is the establishment’s ‘oversight’, or long-distance governance from Dubai — nothing will change.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2016

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