ISLAMABAD – In a surprise political development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to nominate PML-N veteran Nehal Hashmi as the next governor of Sindh, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed on Thursday. The PM met Hashmi at PM House earlier this week and forwarded the recommendation to President Asif Ali Zardari for final approval.
Read More: PPP demands removal of Sindh Governor Tessori
Hashmi’s appointment would replace the incumbent Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), whose role has been under scrutiny since 2024. Reports of Tessori’s removal have been circulating on social media amid tensions between the PPP and MQM-P, both coalition partners at the federal level. In April 2024, the PPP criticized Tessori for allegedly deepening political divides in Sindh and had requested his removal from the Centre.
نہال ہاشمی کو گورنر سندھ تعینات کرنے کا فیصلہ
وزیراعظم شہباز شریف نے سمری منظوری کے لئے صدر پاکستان کو بھجوا دی. وزیر اعظم کی نہال ہاشمی سے ملاقات اور گورنر سندھ تعیناتی پر مبارکباد.@CMShehbaz pic.twitter.com/3XNxZx0AIi— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) March 12, 2026
The PML-N’s decision aligns with an earlier agreement between coalition partners following the 2024 general elections. Under the coalition deal, PPP secured key posts, including the presidency and Senate chairmanship, while PML-N was given the right to appoint governors in Sindh and Balochistan.
Nehal Hashmi, a former PML-N senator elected in March 2015, is no stranger to controversy. His 2017 speech criticizing the judiciary and those investigating the Sharif family led to his disqualification from public office in 2018. The Supreme Court convicted him of contempt of court, sentencing him to one month in jail and barring him from holding public office for five years. Hashmi had previously resigned and withdrawn his Senate membership amid the controversy.
Read More: Sindh CM, governor pay tribute to security forces for killing 15 terrorists
The nomination is expected to further shape political dynamics in Sindh, where the ruling PPP has often expressed dissatisfaction with the governor’s office. Political observers say Hashmi’s appointment could signal a stronger PML-N influence in provincial affairs, potentially impacting the coalition’s balance in the coming months.
The final decision now rests with President Zardari, who will approve or reject the prime minister’s recommendation in accordance with constitutional procedures.