FORMER Glasgow MP Mohammad Sarwar has resigned as governor of Punjab in Pakistan.

 

Mr Sarwar tweeted the news this morning that he had stepped down.

He said it had been an honour to serve the people of Pakistan. A press conference is scheduled to take place on Thursday afternoon.

The 62-year-old former Govan and Glasgow Central MP tweeted: "I have resigned as Governor Punjab. It was an honour to serve the people of Pakistan and will continue to do so in my personal capacity. My Press Conference at 2pm."

In a further series of tweets using the hashtag #BraveManMuhammadSarwar, he added: "I wanted to serve my people and attain justice for the overseas Pakistanis.

"Unfortunately, the injustice and corruption prevalent in Pakistan is very deep rooted and backed by bureaucracy.

"It is dismaying that I have been unable to attain justice for the destitute because of lack of empowerment.

"My life and my death is for my homeland Pakistan."

Mr Sarwar became the first Muslim MP when he won the Glasgow Govan seat in 1997 for Labour. He became governor of Punjab in 2013.

He gave up his British citizenship to take up the role of Punjab governor. Mr Sarwar was born in Punjab and came to the UK in the 1970s.

Mr Sarwar's son Anas Sarwar won the Westminster seat left vacant by his dad.

Anas Sarwar said: “A sad day for Pakistan. Sarwar snr has resigned as Governor of Punjab. He is an honest man doing the honest thing. WE know that he is a straight talker who doesn’t do compromises.

“I am proud of him. He will always do his best to serve the people. If only Pakistan had more like him.”