Nehal Hashmi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was sworn in as Sindh governor on Friday. Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court, Zafar Rajput, administered the oath during a ceremony at Governor House Karachi. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, provincial ministers, Bar Council officials, and PML-N leaders attended the event.
Hashmi replaces Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan’s (MQM-P) Kamran Tessori after President Asif Ali Zardari approved the appointment on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s advice. Speculation about the change had intensified due to PPP’s dissatisfaction with Tessori’s performance. Political leaders and legal bodies had also criticised Tessori for alleged partisan activities from the Governor’s House.
Read more: PML-N’s Nehal Hashmi replaces MQM-P’s Tessori as Sindh governor
Hailing from Karachi’s Malir district, Nehal Hashmi has maintained a decades-long association with the PML-N. He began his political career as legal adviser to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif from 1997 to 1999. Over the years, he held key party positions, including president of PML-N Karachi in 2012 and general secretary of the Sindh chapter in 2014.
In 2015, Hashmi was elected to the Senate on a PML-N seat from Punjab. His party membership was briefly suspended in 2017 but restored in 2021, marking his return to the party’s inner circle. His political experience and legal background were cited as strengths for the gubernatorial role.
Read more: President Zardari approves Nehal Hashmi Sindh governor
Observers say Hashmi’s appointment signals PML-N’s strengthened presence in Sindh and could influence provincial politics. The government hopes his leadership will ensure a more non-partisan and effective governance at the Governor’s House.