Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has said that whether he remains the governor or not, he will live and die for Pakistan.
Speaking in Express News’ talkshow ‘Kal Tak’, Sarwar said that it was a wrong decision to accept the post of governor Punjab. “I renounced my UK citizenship, business and grandchildren to serve Pakistan but later I realised that after the 18th constitutional amendment governorship has become a ceremonial position without any power,” he said.
He, however, clarified that while he acknowledged his mistakes, he had no intention to hand in his resignation and would take all decisions with mutual consultation.
“I have never left my friends in difficult times. I may disagree with them but I will not leave them particularly when the country is going through a critical phase,” he said, adding that he had very good working relationship with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The governor said it was unfortunate that Pakistan’s more than 50% population did not have clean drinking water. “It will be a great achievement if we only provide our children with pure water,” he added.
He said as governor he was offered a luxurious and carefree life but no authority. He said he could work in a number of areas, including health, education and issues of overseas Pakistanis. “The overseas Pakistanis who send home Rs25 billion also have problems and it is the responsibility of the government to provide them protection,” he said.
Sarwar said that in his recent meeting with the premier he has not offered to step down. “We actually discussed different issues, including negotiations with Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri, energy crisis as well as lack of foreign investment and cancellation of visits by three head of states,” he said.
He said it was a matter of pride for him that all political forces of the country, including the parties staging sit-ins in Islamabad, respected and trusted him.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2014.
COMMENTS (18)
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@Shafaq: Well said. You also have right kind of sense of humour.I only wish the man gets what you are saying.
Only a lucrative job could stir his dedication to the country.Munafqat has become second nature among this category of people.
Says the MP who left his constituents in Glasgow to pursue a more lucrative political career in Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif must have told him that he would be a billionaire in five years. Not that he's short of a few Bob or two!
But brother right now you are sitting under a wrong umbrella.
@Alladitta:
Not a very constructive comment
If overseas Pakistanis, those in the GCC, but especially those in the US and UK stopped sending their hard earned Dollars and Pounds to Pakistan, there would be a significant deterioration in Pakistan's economy.
When the "Christians" re conquered Spain, they benefited from the learnings of the muslims, they did not have the attitude you allude to in your comment.
There are many many positive things for Pakistanis to learn from the West - when the British left, we had a good civil service, railway, and army.
Have these improved or deterioted since 1947?
Yes my life is dedicated to Pakistan as long as i become the foreign minister.!
" I wouldn’t mind politicians lying to me, stealing from me, or senselessly making life difficult if they didn’t try to claim they were looking out for my best interest. How refreshing it’d be to see a politician honest enough to admit he’s dishonest.” jarod kintz
crook with conscience, is still a crook.
Sir better go back to where you came from. You should have known the reason as to why did you go away in the first instance. The reason you had to go away, is that the people in this part of the world are not interested in bringing improvement in their lives as do the people in the U.K. Europe, the USA, China Japan etc. Can you see people coming forward to work to bring the change they need? No. So you can do nothing for them. Better go back and try to settle down in the southern part of U.K. Better still if you can find a place to live in south of France.
'My life is dedicated to Pakistan, says Sarwar' Yes that is why I became a UK citizen and served as MP from Glasgow for the good people of Scotland. Sir, your hypocrisy is just amazing.
“I have never left my friends in difficult times. I may disagree with them but I will not leave them
If only people in Pakistan valued principles over loyalty!
This job is not due to the love of Pakistan but love of Mr Nawaz. Mr Sarwar was host of Mr Nawaz in UK during exile from the country. Nawaz returned those favours by choosing him for this job and Mr Sarwar's name will be taught in the Pak Studies forever. Neither Nawaz nor Sarwar love their country but just money and friendships
A washed up politician, how does he think the solutions of the White Man will fit the needs of poor Pakistani.
than please do something more productive. Don't just sit in the governor house.....and get out PMLN
Thanks Gov! for giving us a good laugh. The moment I saw this news, I laughed loudly after so many days. I felt so good. Gosh, he wants to "live" and then even "die" for Pakistan. Please don't do that! we have enough Pakistanis to do that.
Sir, with due respect; staying here will be another bad decision.
Quite amusing actually, he just came back to Pakistan to be in power, before that he's been living in the UK for years! Pakistan is just for business, his son already has few business's here. Doing business isn't wrong but doing it for money to be taken out of our country & evade taxes is what is wrong with some if the businessmen turned politicians. Mr Sarwar, if you really care about Pakistan, then give away your British nationality & start living here! You just came back to Pakistan for the post of punjab governor, not for Pakistan! #GoNawazGo
Respect is earned through deeds, words alone can not feed the hungry, words alone can not educate the uneducated, words alone can not cloth and shelter the poor. if its ceremonial post only, please set a good example and walk away otherwise you become beneficiary of the corrupt system.
The fact of the matter is that the governor has been unable to secure the plushy interim government post he had thought would fall into his lap after the whole IK-TUQ soft coup is done. Stories have been circulating for a while about his role in facilitating the London plan. Unfortunately, seems like the gamble he took in giving up his career in Britain has not paid off. Off to Scotland he should go now!