‘PPP poised to announce changes in Sindh govt’

Karachi: Reports doing the rounds on Sunday seem to suggest that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is all set to announce certain changes on key positions of the provincial government setup in the near future. 

A Geo News report, quoting sources within the provincial power circles, maintained that the PPP, spearheaded by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has decided to make changes well before the 2018 general elections.

The report quoted the sources as saying that the changes were likely to take place in the coming few days with a new Sindh Assembly speaker, deputy speaker and a reshuffle of the cabinet in the offing.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will seek his father Asif Ali Zardari's advice in Dubai before making the important changes, the sources were quoted as having told Geo News. 

It was further said that for the post of Sindh Assembly speaker, the names of Nisar Khuhro and Dr Sikandar Mandhro were under discussion. However, current Sindh PA Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani is likely to be handed an important portfolio in the new look provincial cabinet.

The report suggested that Deputy Speaker Shehla Reza is likely to be appointed provincial minister for education, with her post expected to be taken over by Iram Khalid.

Provincial minister for local bodies, Jam Khan Shoro, and Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal, both relatively recent appointments, are also likely to be relieved of their posts, it was said.

The sources quoted further said that Bilawal could announce these changes any time after returning from his trips to Dubai and Azad Kashmir. 

The Bhutto family scion has been issuing statements against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his federal government ever since the Panama Papers issue surfaced and has been actively calling for the premier to step down and present himself for accountability.