LAHORE, Jan 29 (BSS/AFP): The governor of Pakistan's central Punjab province resigned on Thursday, saying the country's political system had failed ordinary people and served "only the elite class".
Mohammad Sarwar, a businessman who served as a British member of parliament for more than a decade, was appointed to the largely ceremonial role in Pakistan's most populous and influential province in 2013.
The 62-year-old's resignation, less than two years into the job, comes two days after he criticised the government for failing to persuade US President Barack Obama to visit.
Sarwar renounced his British citizenship to take the role in Punjab but in his resignation speech in Lahore voiced disappointment at progress in the province.
"I am resigning because the system has failed to deliver to the masses," Sarwar said.
"The system is serving only the elite class and the common man is deprived of justice, rights and prosperity."
Punjab is the main power base of the centre-right Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) party of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, which appointed Sarwar.
Sarwar, who held elected office for Britain's centre-left Labour Party for more than 25 years in the Scottish city of Glasgow, said he was frustrated at the lack of progress in Punjab.
"Social injustice is increasing in the province. The system is not delivering," he said.
Sarwar called Pakistan's inability to secure a visit from Obama-who this week made his second tour of arch-rival India-a "diplomatic failure".
One of Sarwar's senior staff said the governor had tendered his resignation Wednesday night before announcing it Thursday.
Pakistani provincial governor resigns
FE Team | Published: January 30, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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