ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to nominate Nehal Hashmi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the next governor of Sindh, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.
The decision was taken during a meeting between the premier and Hashmi at the Prime Minister House earlier this week. Following the meeting, a summary recommending his appointment was sent to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval.
Speculation about the possible removal of current Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement – Pakistan (MQM-P) had been circulating on social media in recent days.
Relations between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and MQM-P — both partners in the federal coalition — have been tense in recent months, particularly after the Gul Plaza incident. Since 2024, the Sindh government has also voiced concerns about Tessori’s conduct as governor.
In April 2024, the PPP accused Tessori of deepening political divisions and widening the gap between urban and rural areas of Sindh, urging the PML-N-led federal government to remove him from the position.
Later in August, reports that the Centre was considering replacing Tessori prompted MQM-P leaders to warn they might withdraw from the ruling coalition. However, in December 2025, the party dismissed rumours about his potential removal.
Following the 2024 general elections, the PPP and PML-N — with support from other political groups — agreed on a power-sharing formula to establish a coalition government at the Centre.
Under the arrangement, the PPP secured key posts including the presidency, Senate chairman and deputy speaker of the National Assembly. The PML-N also supported the appointment of PPP nominees as governors in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the PPP agreed that the PML-N would nominate governors for Sindh and Balochistan.
Past controversy and disqualification
Hashmi, a veteran PML-N leader, last served as a senator after being elected in March 2015. However, he became embroiled in controversy following a speech in May 2017 that drew strong criticism.
In the speech, Hashmi lashed out at individuals investigating then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his family, warning that those scrutinising them would face consequences.
After a video of the remarks surfaced, the PML-N leadership asked Hashmi to resign from the Senate and revoked his party membership. He initially submitted his resignation on May 31, 2017, but later withdrew it.
The remarks prompted the then chief justice, Mian Saqib Nisar, to take suo motu notice of the anti-judiciary comments.
In February 2018, the Supreme Court of Pakistan found Hashmi guilty of contempt of court, sentencing him to one month in jail and disqualifying him from holding public office for five years.