Murtaza Wahab
Mayor of Karachi
Assumed office
19 June 2023
DeputySalman Murad
Preceded byWaseem Akhtar
Administrator of Karachi
In office
5 August 2021 – 8 December 2022
Member of the Senate of Pakistan
In office
August 2017 – 11 March 2018
Personal details
NationalityPakistani
Political party Pakistan Peoples Party (2015-present)
RelationsFauzia Wahab (mother)[1]

Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui is a Pakistani politician who is the current Mayor of Karachi. He was a member of the Senate of Pakistan from August 2017 to March 2018.

Early life and education

The son of the late senior PPP politician Fauzia Wahab (1956-2012), Murtaza has earned his Bachelors of Commerce degree from the University of Karachi before pursuing an LLB from the University of London and Bar at Law from Lincoln's Inn, after which he became an advocate of the Sindh High Court.[2]

Political career

On 30 April 2015, he was inducted into the provincial Sindh cabinet of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and was appointed as adviser to the Chief Minister on law.[3] On 21 May 2015, he was given the status of minister.[4]

A petition was filed in the High Court of Sindh challenging the appointment of Wahab as adviser to the Chief Minister and the granting of minister's status to Wahab. The petitioner argued that Wahab became an advocate of the High Court of Sindh in June 2010, and therefore have experience of only six years. The petitioner also challenged the appointment of Wahab as chairman of the Board of Governors of law colleges in Karachi, saying that only provincial minister of Education or the vice-chancellor of the University of Karachi can be appointed for the post.[5][6]

On 22 November 2016, The High Court of Sindh declared his appointment as advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh as illegal. The court also nullified his chairmanship of the Board of Governors of law colleges in Karachi.[7][8]

He was elected unopposed to the Senate of Pakistan as a candidate of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on 15 August 2017. The seat had fallen vacant after the resignation of Saeed Ghani.[9] His Senate membership was due to expire on 11 March 2018.[10]

He ran for the seat in Sindh Provincial Assembly as a candidate of PPP from Constituency PS-111 (Karachi South-V) in 2018 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful.[11] He received 8,502 votes and lost the seat to Imran Ismail.[12]

On 19 August 2018, he was inducted into the provincial Sindh cabinet of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.[13] On 21 August, he was appointed as adviser to Chief Minister on law, and Anti-Corruption Establishment.[14] On 5 September 2018, he was given the additional portfolio of information.[15]

On 5 August 2021, he was appointed as Administrator of Karachi.[16]

Mayor of Karachi Election 2023

Main article: 2023 Karachi Mayoral election

In the 2023 election, Murtaza Wahab and Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman competed for the position of mayor in Karachi. Murtaza Wahab, the candidate from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), emerged as the apparent winner with 173 votes, while Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) received 160 votes, according to unofficial results. After the unofficial mayoral results were announced, there were clashes between JI and PPP workers outside the Arts Council of Pakistan.[17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ "PPP under scrutiny: With Barrister Murtaza Wahab". The News. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  2. ^ Rehan, Areesha (14 June 2023). "Know your mayoral candidate — Murtaza Wahab vs Hafiz Naeemur Rehman". Dawn News.
  3. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (26 July 2016). "Grant of minister's status to adviser challenged in SHC". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Sohail Anwar Sial appointed as Sindh Home Minister". The Nation. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  5. ^ "'Illegal' posts: Notices issued on plea challenging appointment of CM's adviser | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. ^ Siddiqui, Tahir (19 August 2016). "SHC seeks govt reply on petition against adviser's appointment". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  7. ^ Siddiqui, Tahir (23 November 2016). "Appointment of Murtaza Wahab as CM's law adviser declared illegal". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  8. ^ "SHC annuls Murtaza Wahab's appointment as CM's aide". The Nation. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  9. ^ "PPP's Barrister Murtaza Wahab elected senator unopposed | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 15 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  10. ^ Wasim, Amir (22 January 2018). "PPP unlikely to retain its strength in Senate after election". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  11. ^ "Academic credentials of Sindh governor-designate raise eyebrows | The Express Tribune". The Express Tribune. 26 August 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  12. ^ "PS-111 Result - Election Results 2018 - Karachi South 5 - PS-111 Candidates - PS-111 Constituency Details - thenews.com.pk". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  13. ^ Ali, Imtiaz (19 August 2018). "Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah picks his 10-member cabinet". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  14. ^ "CM's advisers Wahab, Mahar allocated portfolios". The News. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  15. ^ Reporter, The Newspaper's Staff (6 September 2018). "Four new ministers take oath as Murad expands Sindh cabinet". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  16. ^ "Sindh govt appoints Murtaza Wahab as Karachi administrator". The Express Tribune. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  17. ^ Tunio, Hafeez (2023-06-15). "JI, PPP clash after Wahab 'wins' Karachi mayor election". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  18. ^ Sadhwani, Sanjay; Umer, Asghar; Umer, Sanjay Sadhwani and Asghar (2023-06-15). "Murtaza Wahab elected Karachi mayor by securing 173 votes". ARY NEWS. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  19. ^ Khan, Imtiaz Ali | Asim (2023-06-15). "Karachi mayor polls: 8 detained as clashes erupt between JI, PPP after Murtaza Wahab emerges victorious". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
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