KARACHI, June 8: Dr Arbab Rahim appeared certain to succeed Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar as the chief minister of Sindh after he emerged as the only candidate to file nomination papers on Tuesday for the election of the leader of the house in the Sindh Assembly.

Arbab Rahim submitted 11 nomination papers to the secretary of the assembly. There is no other candidate for the top slot. The assembly will meet at a special session at 11am on Wednesday to elect the leader of the house.

Dr Rahim was minister for works and services in the Mahar cabinet. The main opposition Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians was in session on Tuesday to thrash out its strategy for the special session. The big question was whether it would attend the session.

Arbab Rahim's name for the post was proposed by MPAs belonging to various parties in the ruling coalition, including Syed Sardar Ahmad, Shoaib Ahmad Bokhari, Irfanullah Marwat, Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad, Ali Bux Shah, Sadruddin Shah, Manzoor Panwhar, Syed Manzoor Hussain Shah, Kunwar Naved, Nadir Akmal Leghari and Dr Manzoor.

After accepting the resignation of Sardar Mahar as chief minister on Monday, Governor Ishratul Ibad summoned the session to ascertain as to which member of the assembly commands the confidence of the majority of members, as required under clause (2A) of Article 130 of the constitution. Although the MQM will retain the major share, it is certain that some new faces will be included in the cabinet.