Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif nominates Nehal Hashmi as Sindh governor

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has nominated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader Nehal Hashmi for the position of Sindh governor, according to an official statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The PMO announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz met with Hashmi at the PM House on Tuesday, where the decision to nominate him was made. Following the meeting, the prime minister forwarded a summary to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval of Hashmi’s appointment as the new governor of Sindh.

The move comes amid ongoing speculation regarding the removal of the current Sindh governor, Kamran Tessori, who is affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). Reports about Tessori’s possible removal have circulated on social media in recent days. In December, MQM-P leadership had dismissed rumors about Tessori’s ouster.

According to the Express Tribune, the summary for Hashmi’s appointment was sent to the president after calls from the bar council and various political leaders for the removal of Governor Tessori. The report noted that there has been mounting criticism of Tessori’s tenure from different quarters.

Nehal Hashmi previously served as a PML-N senator from March 2015 to March 2021, as per the Senate’s official website.

The nomination of a PML-N leader to the post of Sindh governor marks a significant political development, particularly given the recent demands for change from legal and political circles. The final decision now rests with President Asif Ali Zardari, who is expected to review the summary submitted by the prime minister.