KARACHI, April 8 (APP)

Syed Qaim Ali Shah was sworn in as the twenty-third Chief Minister of Sindh onTuesday. The Sindh Governor, Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan administered the oath to Shah at an oath-taking ceremony held at the Governor House.

The ceremony  was attended by caretaker chief minister Justice (retired) Abdul Qadir Halepota, Speaker Sindh Assembly Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Deputy Speaker Shahla Raza, PPPs top provincial leadership, and representatives from the police and armed forces. However, the event was marred by the absence of representatives from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Pakistan Muslim League-Q, Pakistan Muslim League-F and National Peoples Party. The Governor House was placed under heavy guard following recent security lapses at the Sindh Assembly last Monday and Saturday.

Before the completion of the ceremony, supporters of Shahs Pakistan Peoples Party began to cheer loudly and chant slogans. Their actions were swiftly checked by the chief minister-elect who asked all those attending to maintain the dignity of the occasion. Speaking to reporters later in the day, Shah outlined health, education, employment, and the power crisis as his foremost priorities. He also said that law and order was integral for the development and prosperity of Sindh. When asked about the absence of the MQM, Shah said that the PPP was planning to hold talks with the MQM to end their boycott of the Sindh Assembly.

Shah was born into the influential Jillani family of Khairpur in 1935. Following his primary schooling, he moved to Karachi to obtain an LLB and join the legal profesion. He entered government service as a chairman of the District Council under President Ayub Khan before joining the PPP in 1967 as one of its founder members under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. This is the second time that Shah has been elected as Sindhs chief minister. The first time was in 1988.