Ex-chief secretary takes oath as Sindh caretaker CM

KARACHI: Former chief secretary Fazlur Rehman was sworn in as the caretaker chief minister of Sindh province on Saturday. 

Governor Muhammad Zubair administered the oath to Mr. Rehman at a ceremony held at the Governor House.

Rehman emerged as the consensus candidate of the governing Pakistan Peoples Party and opposition parties, which ceased to exist on completion of their five-year term last month, for the slot of the caretaker chief minister of Sindh.

After taking the oath, the newly appointed interim CM held a meeting with the Governor.  Former chief minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was also present during the meeting.

Congratulating Mr. Rehman on being installed as interim CM of Sindh, the Governor expressed optimism that the former will play his role in the holding of fair and transparent elections in the province on its scheduled date.

In his remarks, the interim chief minister said his cabinet will comprise people who are uncontroversial, and resolved that he would discharge his duties honestly and amicably.

He thanked political parties for reposing trust in him to ensure timely elections in Sindh.

The outgoing Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and opposition leader Khawaja Izharul Hassan on Thursday night announced the decision during a joint press conference.

During the earlier talks, People’s Party had suggested the names of Qayyum Soomro, Dr. Younus Soomro and Ghulam Ali Pasha, while the MQM had floated the names of former chief secretary Fazlur Rehman and seasoned politician and media personality Javed Jabbar.

The two sides, however, agreed upon the name of former Sindh chief secretary Fazlur Rehman with the belief, he will perform his responsibilities with honesty and as per the expectations of the people.