KARACHI: Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hasan on Sunday formally came in contact and the former invited the latter to hold talks for naming the caretaker chief minister of the province.

They decided to meet on Monday at the Sindh Assembly building where the last session of the current assembly will also be held before the assembly will automatically stand dissolved at midnight on May 28.

PPP is said to have finalised three and MQM two names for the position

It was agreed that both sides would formally exchange names for the office of the caretaker chief minister. On Saturday night, according to sources, the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) high command met at Bilawal House where PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was briefed on the five-year performance of the party’s government in Sindh. The issue of the caretaker chief minister was also discussed at the meeting and names for the post were finalised. However, no announcement about the decision taken at the meeting was made by the party.

Sources closed to the party told Dawn that the PPP leadership had finalised three names for the post of the caretaker chief minister.

One of them is Ghulam Ali Pasha, a former DMG officer who retired after remaining education secretary and member of the Board of Revenue. He belongs to Hyderabad.

The other two names are: Engineer Hamir Soomro, a grandson of Shah­eed Allah Bux Soomro; and Dr Yunous Soomro, a cousin of Hamir Soomro.

The names for the caretaker chief minister which have been in circulation from the opposition parties in the province are former chief secretary of Sindh Fazlur Rehman and Aftab Shaikh from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, retired Justice Syed Ghaus Ali Shah from the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and retired Justice Amir Muslim Hani from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf.

If the chief minister and the opposition leader are not able to reach a consensus on a name for the caretaker chief minister at Monday’s meeting, the matter would be referred to a parliamentary committee comprising nominees of the ruling and opposition parties.

And if the committee fails to choose a name for the caretaker chief minister, the matter will go to the Election Commission of Pakistan which will select a person for the post in accordance with Article 224(1A.)

Published in Dawn, May 28th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...