KARACHI, April 15: Due to the breakdown in power-sharing talks between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan People’s Party and the MQM’s subsequent decision to sit on the opposition benches in the Sindh Assembly, the first issue the two parties may cross swords over in the assembly is the appointment of the new chairman of the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC).

Appointed by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, who enjoys the support of the MQM, in late January 2008 according to a press release posted on the Governor’s House website (dated Jan 27, 2008), former federal secretary Javed Ashraf Hussain replaced ex-SPSC chairman Mohammad Hassan Bhutto.

Before the new government took power, the PPP had indicated its displeasure at the appointment of Mr Hussain, whose appointment was notified during the tenure of the caretaker government, and wanted the move stayed. While the party’s stand regarding the appointment remains unchanged, it is treading carefully, lest the political climate changes.

When Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri was questioned about the party’s intentions regarding the new chairman, she told Dawn that though the PPP was disappointed, it would seek legal redress regarding the appointment.

“Though the decision has been made, we wanted an elected government to make this decision. We had an objection (about the way it was handled). It gives us very little room. The way this department (SPSC) has been handled has been very controversial ever since the days of the Arbab Rahim government. The decision has been made without consensus,” she said.

Asked if the new government would table a bill to counter the appointment, Ms Marri answered diplomatically, saying “We will handle this matter legally. We will not play with an office. We will handle it democratically.”

Before the PPP-led government took the reins in the province earlier this month, it had conveyed its feelings to Dr Ibad when Pir Mazharul Haq, now a senior minister in Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah’s cabinet and the PPP’s parliamentary leader in the Sindh Assembly, had met the governor in late March.

Pir Mazhar had told a press conference after the meeting that he had delivered a message from Qaim Ali Shah to the governor requesting a stay in the appointment, adding that deciding the fate of the SPSC chairman came under the purview of the new, elected government. He told journalists he was disappointed as the governor had not heeded the PPP’s request.

What the Pir later told this correspondent echoed what Ms Marri stated on Tuesday, that the matter would be handled in the assembly in a “legal” manner. Interestingly, this was during the time when negotiations with the MQM were ongoing.

Sindh is unique in the sense that the governor, a nominee of the president, has the power to appoint the head of the public service commission. In all three other provinces, this is the chief minister’s prerogative, who is an elected representative.

During Ali Mohammad Mahar’s tenure as chief minister, a bill was forwarded to the governor for his assent to change the status quo and give these powers to the CM, but it was returned for “review.” The SPSC, headquartered in Hyderabad, is a key state organ responsible for induction and recruitment to civil service posts in Sindh.

Dawn tried contacting the relevant Governor’s House spokesman for clarification but his phone was repeatedly found turned off.