KARACHI, June 3: Sassui Palijo, who was deprived of her portfolio by the Sindh chief minister on Saturday apparently over her walkout from a cabinet meeting, was likely to be given back the culture or another portfolio if she “behaves” as she had not been expelled from the cabinet, insiders said on Sunday.
The prompt action taken by the chief minister against the minister may also serve as a warning that any member violating discipline would meet the same fate.
When Dawn tried to contact Ms Palijo, elected on a general seat from the Thatta constituency and who has been quite vocal in the Sindh Assembly session and at cabinet meetings, to know her side of the story, her cellphone was found powered off.
The insiders said that the minister walked out of the cabinet meeting on Saturday after she was not allowed to speak her mind about Zulfikarabad, a new township planned in Thatta after the name of the founder of PPP late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
They said that she had reservations over the new coastal town being planned in her district, fearing that the move would attract settlers in large numbers from upcountry. It was conceivably for this reason that she interrupted the chief minister repeatedly during the meeting.
Failing to get a chance, the minister finally lodged her protest by staging a walkout though she might also have been piqued when no other member of the cabinet arrived to persuade her to end the protest.
She then told the media that when MQM ministers were provided full opportunity to give their points of view on issues concerning Karachi, she too wanted to get heard on the proposed city project being planned in Thatta. But, she added, despite having the honour of representing Thatta she was not given the opportunity.
Sources told Dawn that it was likely that the minister would get a portfolio if she did not further violate the rules of discipline. She had not been removed from the cabinet so far, they explained, citing the example of Jam Saifullah Dharejo whose portfolio of revenue ministry had been taken back a couple of years ago only to be replaced with irrigation ministry after some time.
Earlier, the sources said, Manzoor Wasan had been relieved from the portfolio of home ministry as he had taken a leave of absence on health grounds.
They added Sardar Nadir Magsi was being speculated as the home minister soon after Mr Wasan went abroad for a medical check-up. While Mr Wasan, who is a minister without portfolio at present, has recently returned, he is still on leave. The sources said that he could also get back the home ministry or any other portfolio.