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KARACHI: The Sindh Cabinet today (Saturday) gave a go-ahead to the appointment of Advisor to the Chief Minister on Law and Environment Murtaza Wahab as the new administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
According to details, the approval came during a meeting of the provincial cabinet with Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in the chair. Murtaza Wahab has been entrusted with an uphill task to revamp the port city’s ill-maintained civic infrastructure.
Wahab who currently works as an advisor to the chief minister on law and environment also happens to be a spokesperson for the Sindh government. Sources said that the decision was taken on the orders of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who is eyeing to win upcoming local bodies election.
The schedule of the local government polls has yet to be announced, however, the provincial governments in the federating units have started manoeuvring to strengthen their party position in the grass-root level politics.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), have already expressed their opposition to the possible appointment of Murtaza Wahab as the Karachi administrator.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail on Saturday reiterated his stance, asserting that making Wahab the city’s administrator was not at all acceptable. The governor again stated that it had been earlier settled that the appointment of the Karachi administrator would be made after mutual consultation.
He recalled that a meeting held with Prime Minister Imran Khan in chair and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and the Karachi corps commander in attendance had decided that no person having a political background would be appointed as the KMC administrator.
MQM-P Convener Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui categorically rejected the provincial government’s decision about appointment of Murtaza Wahab on the post. He maintained that the Sindh government had not consulted his party over the matter.
He maintained that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) will not accept Murtaza Wahab as Karachi Administrator. The MQM-P leader also hinted at taking out mass rally against the Sindh government.