LAHORE - Former British Parliament member Ch Muhammad Sarwar is being appointed as Punjab governor. Ch Sarwar who served as a Labour Party member of the Parliament has surrendered his UK citizenship conceivably after a signal from PML-N for his appointment to the slot of the Punjab governor.
The party sources say that PML-N President and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has taken the party leadership on board over his decision to make Ch Sarwar governor of the largest province of the country in view of his clout in the ruling circles of UK and the government’s desire to promote trade and commercial ties with Britain and other European countries.
Previously, the party leadership wanted the next Punjab governor from South Punjab, but in the second thought it decided to get Pakistani British national, Ch Sarwar, in the larger national interests at the international level.
Ch Sarwar, after surrendering his UK nationality, reached Lahore on Saturday. Talking to media at Allama Iqbal International Airport on his arrival, Ch Sarwar said the decision regarding appointment of the Punjab governor would be taken by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, he said, he would fulfill his responsibility if given an opportunity to serve the country at any position. He said he had earlier worked in the fields of health and education in Pakistan. Sarwar said that Pakistani nation and the country had great potential which promised prosperity and development of the country in the time to come.
The world was surprised by the rapid rehabilitation after destructive floods in the country, he added.
To a question on the London police inquiry against Alfaf Hussain into the murder case of Dr Imran Farooq, Ch Sarwar said the British police worked independently without coming under political influence. He further said the British government was not authored even to transfer a police constable.
A media report has also tipped off Ch Muhammad Sarwar as becoming the presidential nominee after he is appointed the Punjab governor.
Sarwar, 60, was elected as Labour MP from Glasgow in 1997 and served in this capacity until 2010. Sarwar was also chairman of the Commons Scottish Affairs Committee. He was replaced in the last general election with his son Anas Sarwar who has become deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party. The Punjab move is seen as a stepping stone to become a presidential nominee.
Sarwar has decided to surrender his British nationality so that there is no conflict with the laws which bar dual nationals from holding public posts in Pakistan. He was born in Toba Tek Singh, Punjab, and has always maintained strong political links with his homeland. He played a central role in this year’s Pakistani election campaign which saw the PML-N led by Nawaz Sharif gain a majority.