KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party’s nominated candidate for the chief minister of Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, could be in luck because he is likely to face a small Opposition in the Sindh Assembly after becoming the top official of the province for the second time.

Such an ideal situation for the party could become a reality if the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) decides to sit with it in the Treasury benches in the provincial legislative House. If this happens, the Opposition would be left with barely 20 members in a total House of 168, and that too only if the PML-Q, PML-F and NPP unite after the formation of a PPP-led government.

The last time he was CM, Shah had a friendly assembly in 1988. The MQM was a coalition partner of the PPP during the first Shah-led PPP government. The only member on the Opposition benches in the provincial assembly between 1988 and 1990 was the late Syed Imdad Mohammad Shah, the son of Jeay Sindh Tehreek founder G. M. Syed.

The PPP now has 89 members in the provincial legislative House, while the MQM has 51 and the ANP has two. The PML-Q has 10 members, the PML-F has eight and the NPP has two legislators. The PML-Q’s strength could further be reduced if some of its members form a forward bloc and support the government.

The PML-Q’s provincial chief, former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim, left the political arena after his party’s defeat in the February 18 general elections. Some of the party groups, including the Shirazis of Thatta and Mazaris of Kashmore, are in contact with the PPP. However, they may join or support the PML-N if the PPP leadership refuses to accept them in the party.

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