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PM Shehbaz Nominates Nehal Hashmi as New Sindh Governor
PM Shehbaz Sharif has nominated Nehal Hashmi of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) as the next Governor of Sindh, replacing Kamran Tessori. The summary has been sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for approval, while Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan signals possible concerns over the decision.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-12
PM Shehbaz Nominates Nehal Hashmi as New Sindh Governor

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday decided to nominate senior leader Nehal Hashmi of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) as the new governor of Sindh.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the decision was made during a meeting between the premier and Hashmi at the Prime Minister’s House earlier this week. A summary recommending the appointment has been forwarded to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval.

A video of the meeting showed Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the prime minister’s political adviser Rana Sanaullah also present during the discussion.

If approved, Hashmi will replace the incumbent Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P). The development has reportedly caused unease within MQM-P, with party leaders expected to issue an official reaction soon.

MQM-P’s Punjab coordinator Zahid Malik said discussions about replacing Tessori had been circulating for months but described Hashmi’s nomination as a sudden move. He noted that Tessori had been serving as governor even before the formation of the current federal government.

Malik also claimed that an understanding existed between PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that the next Sindh governor would come from PML-N. According to him, PPP leaders had been pushing for the change, arguing that Tessori’s public outreach in Sindh was negatively affecting the party’s political image.

PPP–MQM tensions

Relations between PPP and MQM-P, both partners in the federal coalition government, have remained strained in recent months. Political tensions increased after the Gul Plaza incident and ongoing disagreements over administrative matters in Sindh.

Back in April 2024, PPP leaders openly criticised Tessori, accusing him of deepening political divisions between urban and rural Sindh. The party had urged the federal government to consider removing him from the position.

Later in August 2024, when reports emerged that the Centre was considering a replacement, MQM-P warned that it might withdraw from the federal coalition. However, in December 2025, the party dismissed rumours about Tessori’s removal.

Following the 2024 general elections, PPP and PML-N — along with other allies — formed a coalition government at the Centre. As part of the power-sharing arrangement, PPP secured key constitutional positions including the presidency, Senate chairmanship and the National Assembly deputy speakership.

Under the same understanding, PML-N was expected to nominate governors in Sindh and Balochistan, while PPP received the right to appoint governors in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Hashmi’s past controversy

Nehal Hashmi previously served as a senator after being elected in March 2015. However, his political career was marred by controversy in 2017 after he delivered a speech criticising those investigating then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family.

In the speech, Hashmi issued strong warnings to officials involved in the investigations, which led to widespread criticism and disciplinary action from his own party. The controversy prompted the Supreme Court of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of his remarks.

At the time, then Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar initiated contempt proceedings against the senator. In February 2018, the Supreme Court convicted Hashmi of contempt of court, sentencing him to one month in prison and disqualifying him from holding public office for five years.

Despite the setback, Hashmi has remained active in PML-N politics. His nomination as Sindh governor now signals a possible return to a prominent constitutional role, pending final approval from the president.
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PakistanPolitics

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SindhGovernor

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