Chief Ministers of Sindh
The Chief Minister of Sindh is the head of the provincial government in Sindh, Pakistan. The position involves overseeing the executive branch of the provincial government and implementing policies and laws. The Chief Minister is elected by the Provincial Assembly of Sindh and is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition.
The role of the Chief Minister includes formulating and implementing provincial policies, managing provincial departments and agencies, coordinating with the federal government, and addressing the needs and concerns of the residents of Sindh. The Chief Minister is also responsible for maintaining law and order, promoting economic development, and ensuring the delivery of public services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
The Chief Minister’s tenure is typically five years, coinciding with the term of the Provincial Assembly, unless dismissed earlier due to political changes, a vote of no confidence, or other extraordinary circumstances. The Chief Minister is supported by a cabinet of ministers responsible for various departments and sectors within the provincial government.
Governor’s Rule and Martial Law in Sindh
Governor’s Rule and Martial Law in Sindh represent periods when civilian governance was suspended, and either direct military control or appointed administrators took charge due to political instability, administrative challenges, or constitutional crises.
Governor’s Rule (December 29, 1951 – May 22, 1953):
During this period, governance in Sindh was directly administered by a Governor appointed by the central government. The provincial assembly’s authority was suspended, and executive decisions were made by the Governor to maintain law and order.
Post Abolished (October 13, 1955 – June 30, 1970):
Sindh was part of the larger West Pakistan province during this time, following the dissolution of the provincial structure until Pakistan reverted to a federal structure with the creation of provinces.
Martial Law (July 1, 1970 – May 1, 1972):
The military assumed control in Sindh to manage civil unrest and political instability, suspending civilian governance and enforcing military authority over executive, legislative, and judicial functions.
Martial Law (July 5, 1977 – April 6, 1985):
Repeated military interventions during this period saw the imposition of martial law in Sindh to restore order and stability amidst political turmoil and civil unrest.
Governor’s Rule (June 24, 1988 – August 31, 1988):
Another instance where the provincial administration was placed under the direct control of a Governor appointed by the central government, temporarily suspending the provincial assembly’s authority.
Governor’s Rule under Moinuddin Haider (October 30, 1998 – June 17, 1999):
During this period, governance in Sindh was again managed by a Governor, appointed amid political challenges to ensure administrative continuity and stability.
The periods of Governor’s Rule and Martial Law in Sindh highlight the province’s turbulent political history. These interventions aimed to restore order but had significant political and social impacts. Their legacy continues to influence Sindh’s political landscape, emphasizing the need for resilient democratic institutions and effective governance.
List of all Chief Ministers of Sindh:
List of Pre-Partition
| Ghulam Hussain Hidayat Ullah (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: April 28, 1937 Left Office: March 23, 1938 Tenure: 10 months and 25 days Political Party/Notes: Muslim People’s Party Notable: First Premier of Sindh, played a crucial role in the early administration and political structuring of the province. |  |
| Allah Bux Soomro (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: March 23, 1938 Left Office: April 18, 1940 Tenure: 2 years and 26 days Political Party/Notes: Ittehad Party Notable: Focused on social and economic reforms, aimed at improving the living conditions of the people of Sindh. |  |
| Mir Bandeh Ali Khan Talpur | |
| Entered Office: April 18, 1940 Left Office: March 7, 1941 Tenure: 10 months and 17 days Political Party/Notes: All-India Muslim League Notable: Brief tenure marked by efforts to strengthen the provincial administration and political stability. |  |
| Allah Bux Soomro (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: March 7, 1941 Left Office: October 14, 1942 Tenure: 1 year, 7 months, and 7 days Political Party/Notes: Ittehad Party Notable: Returned to office with renewed focus on social reforms and addressing communal harmony. |  |
| Ghulam Hussain Hidayat Ullah (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: October 14, 1942 Left Office: August 14, 1947 Tenure: 4 years and 10 months Political Party/Notes: Muslim People’s Party Notable: Led Sindh through the final years of British rule, navigating the challenges leading up to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. His leadership was instrumental in the political transition of Sindh during this crucial period. |  |
List of Post-Partition
Here are the details for each Post-Partition of Chief Minister of Sindh with the specified headings in bold and the notable points elaborated:
| Muhammad Ayub Khuhro (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: August 16, 1947 Left Office: April 28, 1948 Tenure: 8 months, 12 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: First Chief Minister of Sindh after Pakistan’s independence, played a key role in establishing the provincial government’s framework and addressing post-independence administrative challenges. |  |
| Pir Ilahi Bux | |
| Entered Office: May 3, 1948 Left Office: February 4, 1949 Tenure: 9 months, 1 day Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Focused on educational reforms, established several schools and colleges, and promoted literacy programs throughout Sindh. |  |
| Yusuf Haroon | |
| Entered Office: February 18, 1949 Left Office: May 7, 1950 Tenure: 1 year, 2 months, 19 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Worked on improving provincial administration and infrastructure development, including road and railway projects. |  |
| Qazi Fazlullah Ubaidullah | |
| Entered Office: May 8, 1950 Left Office: March 24, 1951 Tenure: 10 months, 16 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Focused on enhancing provincial governance, promoted agricultural development and land reforms. | |
| Muhammad Ayub Khuhro (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: March 25, 1951 Left Office: December 29, 1951 Tenure: 9 months, 4 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Returned to office to stabilize the political situation, continued infrastructure projects, and addressed law and order issues. |  |
| Pirzada Abdul Sattar | |
| Entered Office: May 22, 1953 Left Office: November 8, 1954 Tenure: 1 year, 5 months, 17 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Implemented agricultural policies to boost production, supported rural development, and worked on improving irrigation systems. |  |
| Muhammad Ayub Khuhro (3rd time) | |
| Entered Office: November 9, 1954 Left Office: October 13, 1955 Tenure: 11 months, 4 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Focused on developmental projects in Sindh, including infrastructure and education, aimed at long-term provincial growth. |  |
| Mumtaz Ali Bhutto (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: May 1, 1972 Left Office: December 20, 1973 Tenure: 1 year, 7 months, 19 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Initiated various development projects, emphasized rural development, and worked on administrative reforms to enhance governance. |  |
| Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi | |
| Entered Office: December 25, 1973 Left Office: July 5, 1977 Tenure: 3 years, 6 months, 10 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Played a key role in provincial development, promoted industrial growth, and worked on improving healthcare and education services. |  |
| Ghous Ali Shah | |
| Entered Office: April 6, 1985 Left Office: April 6, 1988 Tenure: 3 years Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Focused on law and order, initiated infrastructure development projects, and promoted economic growth in the province. |  |
| Akhtar Ali Ghulam Qazi (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: April 11, 1988 Left Office: June 24, 1988 Tenure: 2 months, 13 days Political Party: Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Notable: Brief tenure with a focus on transitional governance, aimed to stabilize the political situation in Sindh. |  |
| Akhtar Ali Ghulam Qazi (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: August 31, 1988 Left Office: December 2, 1988 Tenure: 3 months, 2 days Political Party: Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Notable: Continued efforts to stabilize the province, worked on short-term governance and administrative issues. |  |
| Qaim Ali Shah (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: December 2, 1988 Left Office: February 25, 1990 Tenure: 1 year, 2 months, 23 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Focused on development and social welfare programs, aimed to improve living standards and reduce poverty in Sindh. |  |
| Aftab Shaban Mirani | |
| Entered Office: February 25, 1990 Left Office: August 6, 1990 Tenure: 5 months, 12 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Worked on economic policies and governance, aimed to improve administrative efficiency and transparency. |  |
| Jam Sadiq Ali | |
| Entered Office: August 6, 1990 Left Office: March 5, 1992 Tenure: 1 year, 6 months, 27 days Political Party: Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Notable: Focused on economic and infrastructure development, aimed to boost industrial growth and improve public services. |  |
| Muzaffar Hussain Shah | |
| Entered Office: March 6, 1992 Left Office: July 19, 1993 Tenure: 1 year, 4 months, 13 days Political Party: Islami Jamhoori Ittehad Notable: Emphasized administrative reforms, aimed to enhance governance and improve public administration in Sindh |  |
| Syed Ali Madad Shah | |
| Entered Office: July 19, 1993 Left Office: October 21, 1993 Tenure: 3 months, 2 days Political Party: Caretaker Notable: Served as a caretaker Chief Minister, focused on ensuring smooth administrative transition and maintaining stability. |  |
| Syed Abdullah Ali Shah | |
| Entered Office: October 21, 1993 Left Office: November 6, 1996 Tenure: 3 years, 16 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Focused on development projects, aimed to improve infrastructure, education, and healthcare services in Sindh. |  |
| Mumtaz Bhutto (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: November 7, 1996 Left Office: February 22, 1997 Tenure: 3 months, 15 days Political Party: Sindh National Front Notable: Returned to office with a focus on Sindh’s autonomy, aimed to address regional issues and promote provincial rights. |  |
| Liaquat Ali Jatoi | |
| Entered Office: February 22, 1997 Left Office: October 30, 1998 Tenure: 1 year, 8 months, 8 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League Notable: Worked on economic and industrial development, aimed to boost economic growth and create job opportunities in Sindh. |  |
| Ali Mohammad Mahar | |
| Entered Office: December 17, 2002 Left Office: June 9, 2004 Tenure: 1 year, 5 months, 23 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Notable: Focused on governance and law enforcement, aimed to improve public safety and administrative efficiency in Sindh. |  |
| Arbab Ghulam Rahim | |
| Entered Office: June 9, 2004 Left Office: November 19, 2007 Tenure: 3 years, 5 months, 10 days Political Party: Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Notable: Emphasized development projects, aimed to improve infrastructure, healthcare, and education services in Sindh. |  |
| Abdul Qadir Halepota | |
| Entered Office: November 19, 2007 Left Office: April 6, 2008 Tenure: 4 months, 18 days Political Party: Caretaker Notable: Served as a caretaker Chief Minister, focused on ensuring smooth administrative transition and maintaining stability. | |
| Qaim Ali Shah (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: April 6, 2008 Left Office: March 21, 2013 Tenure: 4 years, 11 months, 15 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Implemented various development projects, focused on infrastructure, education, and healthcare improvements in Sindh. |  |
| Zahid Qurban Alvi | |
| Entered Office: March 21, 2013 Left Office: May 30, 2013 Tenure: 2 months, 9 days Political Party: Caretaker Notable: Served as a caretaker Chief Minister, focused on ensuring smooth administrative transition and maintaining stability. |  |
| Qaim Ali Shah (3rd time) | |
| Entered Office: May 30, 2013 Left Office: July 25, 2016 Tenure: 3 years, 1 month, 25 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Continued development projects, aimed to enhance infrastructure, education, and healthcare services in Sindh. |  |
| Syed Murad Ali Shah (1st time) | |
| Entered Office: July 29, 2016 Left Office: May 28, 2018 Tenure: 1 year, 9 months, 29 days Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Emphasized infrastructure and social development, aimed to improve public services and enhance economic growth in Sindh. |  |
| Fazal-ur-Rehman | |
| Entered Office: June 2, 2018 Left Office: August 17, 2018 Tenure: 2 months, 15 days Political Party: Caretaker Notable: Served as a caretaker Chief Minister, focused on ensuring smooth administrative transition and maintaining stability. |  |
| Syed Murad Ali Shah (2nd time) | |
| Entered Office: August 18, 2018 Left Office: August 17, 2023 Tenure: 5 years Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Focused on comprehensive development and governance, aimed to improve infrastructure, education, and healthcare services in Sindh. |  |
| Maqbool Baqar | |
| Entered Office: August 15, 2023 Left Office: February 27, 2024 Tenure: 6 months, 12 days Political Party: Caretaker Notable: Served as a caretaker Chief Minister, focused on ensuring smooth administrative transition and maintaining stability. |  |
| Syed Murad Ali Shah (3rd time) | |
| Entered Office: February 27, 2024 Incumbent Tenure: Incumbent Political Party: Pakistan Peoples Party Notable: Current Chief Minister focusing on continued development and governance, aimed to enhance public services and infrastructure in Sindh. |  |
The list of Chief Ministers of Sindh is more than just a record of political leadership; it is a window into the province’s historical, political, and socio-economic evolution. By examining the tenure of each leader, one can gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that have shaped Sindh, contributing to a broader understanding of its past and present governance.