Sindh Education Minister Dr Hamida Khuhro called on Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim here on Wednesday in a major development, apparently to sort out their differences. It is the first contact between Dr Khuhro and Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim after the curtailment of her ministerial powers on June 28.
Sources in CM House told Business Recorder that the Chief Minister and the Education Minister discussed the matter in a cordial atmosphere, and vowed to settle down their differences in an amicable manner. It is expected that Dr Hamida Khuhro, whose authority was restricted to only college education, might get back some more sections of the Education Department, they said.
Earlier, it was rumoured that if her authority as cabinet minister was not restored, she might quit the government. The differences between the Chief Minister and the Education Minister cropped up in June when her powers were curtailed by the Chief Minister and she was confined to deal only with the provincial colleges in the Education Department.
On Tuesday, the Chief Minister, through a notification, delegated most of his powers to the provincial Education Secretary to run the department. Earlier on Monday, Dr Hamida Khuhro and Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim also held separate meetings with President Pervez Musharraf and apprised him of the issue.
It may be mentioned here that Dr Hamida Khuhro left for the US on June 27 to hold talks with World Bank officials to secure loan for the ongoing development projects, aimed at promotion of education in the province and to initiate the new schemes. Following her departure to the US, the Chief Minister curtailed her powers and confined her authority to colleges education.
After the curtailment of her powers, Dr Hamida Khuhro, who was due to return to the country on July 9, delayed her return. Later, it was announced that the Education Minister would return on July 16, but after completion of her US visit, she instead of coming to the country went to London and from there, she sought the help of the Federal government to resolve the matter.
Sources said that the Wednesday's meeting between the Chief Minister and the Education Minister was held under the directives of President Pervez Musharraf, asking them to settle their differences.