PPP decides to replace Sindh Chief Minister

Top leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have decided to replace Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah with a relatively young face.

A senior PPP leader, said the decision was taken because of Shah's old age and that he "is not moving with the pace of time as he was supposed to." Besides he was also "too soft" on certain issues, which included the current controversy surrounding the Rangers' special powers and their action against certain individuals belonging to the PPP, reports the Dawn

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by PPP co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari in Dubai, for primarily discussing and finalising a decision on expanding the scope of special policing powers of Rangers to the whole of Sindh.

After his return to Pakistan, Chief Minister Shah would tender his resignation to Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, who would summon a session of the Sindh Assembly for the election of the new leader of the house.

Reportedly, Sindh Senior Minister Murad Ali Shah becomes a top candidate for the post.

Senator Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson for Zardari, said in a statement that the PPP had decided to make changes in the Sindh cabinet, including bringing in a new chief minister.

According to Babar, Shah was also present in the Sunday meeting in Dubai which took the decision to remove him.

He added that PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari "is scheduled to return to Karachi early in the week to meet provincial party leaders and MPAs before finalising changes in the Sindh cabinet."

The 83-year-old Sindh Chief Minister had survived earlier attempts to replace him.