In a major political move, PML-N leader Nehal Hashmi has been appointed as the Governor of Sindh, with the President Asif Ali Zardari approved his appointment.
According to reports, on the advice of the Prime Minister, the President gave the nod under Articles 48 and 101 of the Constitution of Pakistan. President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated Nehal Hashmi on the appointment and signed the Commission of Appointment, formalising the process.
Before assuming office, Nehal Hashmi will take the oath before the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.
Earlier, the Media Wing of the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Nehal Hashmi’s summary for the Governor’s post had been sent to the President for approval.
Nehal Hashmi also met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who congratulated him on the appointment. Prime Minister’s Advisor on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and others were present during the meeting.
MQM-P reactions on decision to change Governor
On the other hand, Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan (MQM-P) has reacted strongly to the decision to change the Governor of Sindh. In this regard, MQM-P Leader Dr Farooq Sattar said that after the unilateral decision to change the Sindh Governor, there is no justification for remaining in the government.
He stated that it has been a tradition for the Governor of Sindh to be from MQM-P. MQM-P is an ally of the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N), and the constitutional post of governor is considered the party’s right, which it is now being deprived of.
“The federal government did not take MQM-P into confidence regarding this decision. After such a unilateral move, the party has no justification to remain in the federal government,” he added.
Nehal Hashmi’s Political Career
Nehal Hashmi, a Karachi native, is a lawyer and politician. He served as a member of the Senate of Pakistan from March 2015 to February 2018. Born on January 28, 1960, Nehal Hashmi is recognised as a prominent criminal and constitutional lawyer in Pakistan.
He began practising law in the late 1980s and, as a student leader, founded the All Pakistan Youth League. Nehal Hashmi entered active politics in the 1990s and joined PML-N in 1992.
He served as Advisor to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Law, Justice and Human Rights from 1997 to 1999, handling key legal matters including Nawaz Sharif’s NAB case and the Murtaza Bhutto Tribunal.
In 2012, he became the President of PML-N Karachi and was appointed General Secretary of PML-N Sindh in August 2014. In 2015, he was elected as a Senate candidate of PML-N from a Punjab seat. Nehal Hashmi was expelled from the party in 2017 over a controversial statement regarding the Panama Papers case but was reinstated in 2021.
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