ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party yesterday decided to replace Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in addition to reshuffling the provincial cabinet, a spokesman said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the party – jointly chaired by former President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto Zardari - in Dubai which was participated among others by CM Shah.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, who is popular for his absent mindedness and infamous sleep, was also present during the meeting.

Later, PPP spokesman Senator Farhtullah Babar announced: “Pakistan People’s Party today (July 24) decided make changes in the Sindh cabinet including bringing in a new chief minister.”

There were reports Finance Minister Murad Ali Shah was the strongest candidate to replace Qaim Ali Shah amid reports of bad governance.

As for other cabinet changes, party sources said Manzoor Hussain Wassan may replace Sohail Anwar Siyal as home minister.

Farhtullah said: “The decision (to replace Qaim) was taken when some senior leaders of the Party today (Sunday) called on former President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Pakistan People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in Dubai.”

He said Bilawal will return to Karachi early in the week starting today (July 25) to meet provincial party leaders and lawmakers before finalizing changes in the Sindh cabinet.

Qaim Ali Shah has been the CM for a second consecutive term since 2008. He had also held the post during Benazir Bhutto’s 18-month as Prime Minister tenure in 1988.

Qaim-led government in Sindh had faced a lot criticism during this term especially in the past year for bad governance and alleged apathetic attitude towards welfare of the people.

The incumbent chief minister has been trolled on the social media many times in the recent past for his tongue-slips in public addresses besides alleged irresponsible behavior towards development projects in Karachi.

The party also decided to bring about major organizational changes in its Azad Jammu Kashmir chapter after the July 21 drubbing in the general polls in the semi-autonomous state, Senator Farhtullah said.

Rangers Extention

The leadership of PPP was also expected to hold discussions on another crucial issue — another extension in Rangers’ special powers for Karachi and, more importantly, whether the paramilitary force be allowed to exercise the same policing powers in the rest of the province.

PPP Secretary General Latif Khosa told reporters in Dubai yesterday that the issue of Rangers’ extension would soon be resolved.

Rangers’ raid-and-arrest powers have expired as the last extension, which was given by the provincial government for 77 days and only for the Karachi division, ended on July 19. Sindh government fears that Rangers will target PPP cadres if it widens the scope of their special policing powers to the whole of Sindh.

Karachi corps commander had also met CM Qaim Shah earlier in the week, and asked for renewal of Rangers’ special powers and an extension of mandate to whole of province. Shah told him that he would take a decision only after consulting the party high command.