KARACHI, Dec 13: Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, a nominee of the National Alliance for the position of Leader of the House in the Sindh Assembly, formally announced his decision to withdraw in favour of Ali Muhammad Mahar, a PML-Q nominee who has emerged as a consensus candidate for the slot having support of the MQM, PML-F and NA besides leaders of his own party.

Dr Arbab Rahim told newsmen here on Friday: “I also forgive Pir Pagara for his refusal to endorse my candidature for the slot.”

Until now, Dr Arbab had been expressing his reservations over his support to the PML-F nominee, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, for the post of Speaker clearly due to heartfeeling.

The unhappy MPA from Thar was calmed down by Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi, son of Pir Pagara, who visited Dr Arbab’s residence along with Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah where a meeting of the NA parliamentary party’s meeting was in progress and the political situation was being reviewed.

Dr Arbab, flanked by his parliamentary party colleagues, told newsmen after his meeting with the PML-F leaders, that he had invited his party colleagues to be briefed on the latest developments pertaining to the elections for the Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the top slot.

He regretfully mentioned Pir Pagara’s refusal to support his candidature and recalled that his elder brother, Arbab Mir Hasan, and the NA chief, Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, had met the PML-F chief twice separately for the purpose. He said that Pir Pagara had maintained that he had already made a commitment to the MQM.

He revealed that Pir Sadruddin Shah Rashdi met him at the dinner on Thursday night and that he conveyed his heartfeeling to Mr Shah. Dr Arbab said that after the exchange of views, Mr Shah, accompanied by Muzaffar Shah, visited Jatoi House on Friday to sort out the problem and later both the leaders came to his residence requesting patience. He said that the respected leaders also urged him to forget whatever happened in the past and forgive everybody who had caused heartfeeling to him to start a fresh relationship.

“We belong to Sindh where even killers are pardoned when they approach the aggrieved family,” Dr Arbab remarked saying: “as per the traditions of Sindh, I forget whatever happened to me.” He said that he had taken this decision in the interest of the democratic process in Sindh, to facilitate the efforts aimed at ending the political deadlock and to save the assembly.

Defending his move to get the inaugural session of the House postponed, he said that it was also very much in the interest of the House. He justified the move by saying: “Had the decision not been taken outside the House, the persisting deadlock may have led to the dissolution of the assembly.”