KARACHI: Senior leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Waseem Akhtar, has called on the federal government to clarify the reasons behind the removal of Kamran Tessori as the governor of Sindh.
The federal government has nominated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nehal Hashmi to replace Tessori as the new governor of the province.
Speaking to the media, Akhtar said the government should have consulted MQM-P before making such a decision. He added that even if there were valid reasons for Tessori’s removal, the party should have been taken into confidence, especially when it is consulted on other important matters such as constitutional amendments.
Akhtar also raised concerns about whether the move was made under pressure from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
When asked about the possibility of MQM-P leaving the ruling coalition, Akhtar said he would strongly recommend that the party withdraw from the government during its next meeting.
“I will urge the party leadership to exit the coalition government and register a strong protest,” he stated. However, he clarified that no emergency meeting of MQM-P had been called yet.
He added that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently abroad, and the MQM-P leadership is expected to meet him in Islamabad once he returns.
Akhtar rejected the perception that the party intends to remain in the government at any cost, but noted that the current protest may be sufficient for now given the country’s sensitive security situation.
He also highlighted the broader national challenges, stating that the country is facing economic difficulties while many citizens continue to work with unchanged salaries.
Earlier, MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar also criticised the decision, stating that the position of Sindh governor has traditionally been held by MQM-P and that the party is being deprived of what he described as its constitutional right.
Sattar added that after such a unilateral decision, MQM-P has little justification to continue as part of the federal government and should consider immediately leaving the coalition.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sent a summary to the President of Pakistan seeking approval for Nehal Hashmi’s appointment as Sindh governor.
The prime minister also met Nehal Hashmi and congratulated him on his nomination. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah were also present at the meeting.
