Farooq Sattar demands PM Shehbaz reinstate Kamran Tessori as Sindh governor

KARACHI: Senior Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) leader Dr Farooq Sattar has demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reinstate Kamran Tessori as the governor of Sindh, urging the premier to review his decision to replace him.

Tessori, who assumed the role of Sindh governor in October 2022, was replaced by the government last week. The move prompted a strong reaction from the MQM-P leadership, with Dr Sattar publicly calling on the prime minister to reverse the decision.

MQM-P pushes back against governor's removal

Dr Farooq Sattar, a prominent figure within the MQM-P ranks, made the demand for Tessori's reinstatement, signalling the party's displeasure with the federal government's move. Sattar urged PM Shehbaz to reconsider the decision, framing it as a matter that warranted a review by the prime minister himself.

Kamran Tessori had served as the governor of Sindh since October 2022, a period during which he represented the federal government's interests in the province. His replacement last week by the government marked a significant political development, particularly for the MQM-P, which has long sought to maintain its influence in Sindh's political landscape.

The demand from Dr Sattar underscores the significance the MQM-P places on the Sindh governor's post, which has traditionally been an important political appointment for parties representing urban Sindh. The governor's role, while largely ceremonial, carries symbolic weight in the province's complex political dynamics.

The MQM-P's reaction to Tessori's removal highlights the tensions that can arise between coalition partners over key political appointments. The party's insistence on reinstating Tessori suggests that the decision to replace him may not have been taken in consultation with the MQM-P leadership.

Dr Sattar's appeal to the prime minister reflects the party's approach of engaging directly with the top leadership of the ruling coalition to resolve matters of political significance. The MQM-P has been part of the federal coalition, and the governor's post in Sindh has been a key aspect of its political arrangement with the ruling alliance.

It remains to be seen how the federal government responds to the MQM-P's demand and whether PM Shehbaz Sharif will consider revisiting the decision regarding the Sindh governor's appointment.