Wednesday, April 9, 2008, Rabi-ul-Sani 2,1429    

Qaim Ali Shah new Sindh Chief Minister
MQM boycotts oath taking

Amanullah Khan

Karachi—Syed Qaim Ali Shah assumed the office of the Chief Minister of Sindh Tuesday when Dr. Ishratul Ibad, governor of Sindh administered oath at the governor house where distinguished personalities and elected MPAs were present.

Since Muttahida Qaumi Movement did not field any candidate for the position of Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah elected unopposed as the 23rd Chief Minister of the province. Earlier some 90 provincial assembly members reposed confidence in him in the first session of the assembly on Monday however members of MQM, PML-Q and NPP did not attend the assembly session. Syed Qaim Ali Shah after the oath taking ceremony expressed his confidence that MQM would soon end the boycott. Outlining the future strategy of his government, the Chief Minister declared that poverty reduction would be the foremost priority of the new provincial government.