Nehal Hashmi Tipped for Sindh Governor, MQM Upset
News Desk
Islamabad/Karachi: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to nominate Nehal Hashmi as the new governor of Sindh, triggering a strong reaction from coalition partner Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P).
According to the Prime Minister‘s Office, a summary for Hashmi’s appointment has been forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval.
The decision was made during a meeting between the prime minister and Hashmi at the Prime Minister’s House on Tuesday. Ishaq Dar and the prime minister’s political adviser Rana Sanaullah were also present during the meeting, the PMO said.
However, MQM-P leaders expressed dissatisfaction over the move, saying the party was not taken into confidence regarding the removal of the current Sindh governor Kamran Tessori or the nomination of his successor.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/governor-tessori-turns-ramadan-iftar-into-welfare-drive/
Senior MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar said he learned about the development through media reports, describing the decision as a clear signal that the government may no longer need MQM-P’s support.
Speaking to Geo News, Sattar said party chairman Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui was consulting the party leadership and that MQM-P would soon announce a principled stance on the matter.
He added that the Sindh governor’s position was part of the agreement between Pakistan Muslim League (N) and MQM-P when the federal government was formed, making the unilateral decision disappointing.
“If the PML-N considers the Pakistan Peoples Party more important, that is their choice, but ignoring MQM-P is unacceptable,” he said.
Political observers note that tensions among coalition partners had already been simmering over the Sindh governor’s position. The PPP had previously expressed reservations about Tessori’s role and had reportedly called for his removal.
Following the 2024 Pakistani general election, the PPP and PML-N formed a coalition government at the center with the support of several allied parties, under an arrangement that included the distribution of key constitutional offices among partners.
