KARACHI: The Sind Chief Minister, Mr Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, has resigned his post, his Press Secretary announced in Karachi last night [Dec 18]. His resignation, which has been accepted, followed an announcement by the Federal Communications Minister, Mr Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi ... that he had been asked by Prime Minister Bhutto to take over as the Chief Minister of Sind `... next week`.

Till Mr Jatoi takes over his new post the senior-most Minister in the Provincial Cabinet, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, will act as the Chief Minister. News agencies [Meanwhile,] Allama Rashid Turabi, an eminent Shia scholar and one of the most brilliant orators of his time, passed away ... last night at his Federal`B` area residence. Allama ... had been a heart patient for some time. ...

The Namaze Janaza will be held this afternoon [Dec 19] at Nishtar Park. ... His death will be mourned all over the Sub-continent and outside by the millions of people who listened to his addresses on the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Husain. Over 1,000 of his speeches have been recorded. He was a great believer in Muslim unity and was a guiding light of the Ittehadul Muslimeen in Hyderabad State.