ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally nominated senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nehal Hashmi as the new Governor of Sindh, forwarding a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval . The move comes amidst mounting criticism of the incumbent governor, Kamran Tessori, from legal bodies and political leaders over alleged unconstitutional political activities at the Governor House .
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing, PM Shehbaz met with Hashmi to congratulate him on the nomination . Senior party leaders, including Rana Sanaullah and Ishaq Dar, were also present during the meeting .
Background of the Controversy
The push for Tessori’s removal has been intensifying for weeks:
- Sindh Bar Council Demand: Last month, the Sindh Bar Council passed a resolution demanding Tessori’s immediate removal, declaring his involvement in political activities and use of the Governor House for such purposes a violation of the Constitution . The council declared him “unfit for representing the federation” .
- Nationalist Leaders’ Accusations: On February 20, Sindhi nationalist leaders accused Tessori of turning the Governor House into a platform for “ethnic politics” following an event attended by leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) . Qaumi Awami Tehreek leader Ayaz Latif Palijo alleged it had become a “centre for hatching conspiracies against Sindh and Pakistan” .
- Provincial Minister’s Criticism: Sindh Senior Minister and Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon condemned speeches delivered at the ceremony as “hateful and linguistically biased,” stating such remarks were inappropriate for a constitutional platform and threatened Karachi’s communal harmony .
Who is Nehal Hashmi?
Nehal Hashmi is a veteran PML-N leader with a lengthy political career marked by both high office and legal controversy :
- Political Career: A native of Karachi, he has been associated with PML-N for decades, serving as Advisor for Law and Justice to former PM Nawaz Sharif (1997-1999) and later as President of PML-N Karachi and General Secretary of the party’s Sindh chapter . He served as a Senator from March 2015 to 2021 .
- Legal Controversy: In 2017, he was expelled from the party after making statements critical of the judiciary in a public gathering . In 2018, the Supreme Court convicted him of contempt of court, sentencing him to one month in jail and disqualifying him from holding public office for five years . His party membership was restored in 2021 .
Political Fallout
The nomination has already triggered reactions from political stakeholders. MQM-P, the party to which Tessori belongs, expressed shock over the decision, claiming they were not consulted . Senior MQM-P leader Dr. Farooq Sattar called for the party to immediately exit the federal government, arguing they are being deprived of their “constitutional right” to the governor’s post, which has traditionally been held by MQM-P .
The nomination aligns with the coalition agreement following the 2024 general elections, where PML-N was given the right to appoint governors in Sindh and Balochistan, while PPP secured the presidency and Senate chairmanship . The final decision now rests with President Zardari, who must grant formal approval for the appointment to take effect .
