Nihal Hashmi appointed as Sindh governor: Who is Nihal Hashmi?

The President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, has approved the appointment of Nihal Hashmi as the Governor of Sindh, under Articles 48 and 101 of the Constitution, on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The President congratulated Nihal Hashmi on his appointment and extended his best wishes. He has also signed the commission of appointment. Before assuming office, Nihal Hashmi will take the oath in front of the Chief Justice of the Sindh High Court.

Who is Nihal Hashmi?

Syed Nihal Hashmi, 66, was born in Karachi into a Muhajir family with roots in Bihar, India. He is a prominent criminal and constitutional lawyer who began his legal career in the late 1980s.

Hashmi has been active in politics with the Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz (PML‑N) since 1992 and served as a Senator from March 2015 to February 2018. His political career also includes key roles such as General Secretary of PML‑N’s Sindh chapter and advisor on law, justice, and human rights to the then Prime Minister.

In 2017, his party membership was temporarily suspended for violating party discipline, though it was later reinstated. In 2018, he was convicted in a contempt-of-court case by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, receiving a one-month jail sentence and a five-year bar from holding public office.

With this appointment, Nihal Hashmi is set to take office as the Governor of Sindh, bringing decades of legal expertise and political experience to the role.