KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah formally asked Sindh Assembly opposition leader Syed Sardar Ahmad to suggest two names for the office of caretaker chief minister, Dawn learnt on Tuesday.

The caretaker chief minister would be installed after the provincial assembly is dissolved, probably on March 15. The opposition leader has been asked to submit his recommendations by Friday.

This communication between the chief minister and opposition leader took place when they went to distribute compensation cheques to the wounded victims of the Abbas Town bombing on Monday.

Dawn has learnt that Mr Ahmad has also been in touch with the joint opposition of smaller parties in the Sindh Assembly, led by Jam Madad Ali of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F), to take them on board about recommending two names for the pot of caretaker chief minister.Sources in the Sindh Assembly privy to the PML-F told Dawn that the 10-party alliance led by PML-F chief Pir Pagara nominated Jam Madad Ali and National People’s Party leader Masroor Khan Jatoi for consultation with opposition (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) representatives.

The leaders of joint opposition alliance and Mr Ahmad have decided to meet on Wednesday. However, leaders of the 10-party alliance would also hold a consultative meeting among themselves before forwarding their recommendations to the opposition leader for the post of caretaker chief minister.

Meanwhile, sources said the MQM had yet to decide on their nominations. But the party leaders are expected to decide upon their recommendations before Mr Ahmad consults with the joint opposition alliance.

When Dawn asked Mr Ahmad about whom did the opposition consider suitable to run the office of caretaker prime minister, the opposition leader said that the matter had not received much consideration except for the names being reported in the press already. However, he said, he had requested the MQM leadership to shortlist of two suitable nominees who would be acceptable to all stake holders.

Mr Ahmad said he had scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with leaders of the joint opposition and a decision would be taken regarding the matter after reaching consensus.