Sarwar served as Labour Member of Parliament for Glasgow from 1997 to 2000 and retired from British politics in 2010. PHOTO: FILE.
ISLAMABAD: Prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday sent a summary to the President, advising him to appoint Chaudhry Sarwar as the new Governor of Punjab, Express News reported.
The decision comes after a very long period of speculation over the choice of the governor.
Sarwar is a British citizen who reportedly arrived from the United Kingdom and met Nawaz Sharif on the offers of two alternative posts, High Commissioner to UK or Governor of Punjab.
Having served as Labour Party Member of Parliament in Glasgow for 13 years, Sarwar comes with the experience of legislation besides having been a successful businessman.
Party members had expected the candidate to be from the rank-and-file of PML (N), and possibly someone from Southern Punjab in an attempt to enforce regional parity in a party used to choosing candidates from Lahore for the post of Chief Minister Punjab.
Correction: An earlier version of this story wrongly attributed a quote to senator Mohsin Khan Leghari . The error is regretted.
COMMENTS (17)
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Would any one explain here esp PML-N's supporter,lover and voter that what Ch. Sarwar has done remarkable for Pakistan as an MP British government????
I am surprised as when people are so judgemental about other people why do they hide behind fake ID's or conceal their identification! If we have the confidence to judge someone like no one knows him/her better then us then it is only fair that you let yourself known as well! Its easy to make comments on anyone from behind a computer screen!
Anyway If we look at India, they accepted their expats with open arms and look where India is today! Everyone acknnowledges that India's expat community has a big hand in the development today and India stands amongst the top economies today! Expats are also Pakistani's who left Pakistan for various reasons but have never cut themselves off from Pakistan! In any calamity it is always the expats who raise millions to help their Pakistani brothers and sisters! But as soon as one expat wants to come home to Pakistan and physically do something for Pakistan, everyone in Pakistan is suspicious about his/her loyalty!
In the case of Mr Sarwar, yes he's lived a long period of his life in UK and lived a very successfull life both personally and as a politician but he has never forgotton his roots! For the last 10+ years he has been on the ground in Pakistan managing 2 hospitals one in Kamalia and other in Chichawatni which provide free treatment to 'Pakistanis' He has launched a school system recently where students are being educated for free!
In the recent years the whole Pakistani culture is become very 'suspicious' of anyone and anything that we do not know the slightest about and rely upon some section of the media that just runs as a mouth piece for certain 'fronts'
The UK and western world has acknowldged Mr. Sarwar as a Pakistani British Politician but we in Pakistan have difficulty in accepting him! Yes he's been fortunate, lucky and lived a very prestigious life but it did not come easy! Endless, tireless hours of hard work and commitment earned him the heights he has achieved! Why do we shout and scream at Amir Khan (boxer) as a Pakistani whereas he was not even born in Pakistan! Maybe its easy as most of us know we cant be in his 'boxing' shoes so we dont mind accepting him but quite a few would not mind being the Governor of Punjab as it is seen as an easy comfortable position without any 'physical' beating incase things dont turn out right!
So we need to grow as a mature nation to accept our own and be happy at someones development and rise to high ranks and rather not sound like sore losers and complain and be suspicious about everyone and everything that we do not know about!
In the last I am not a fan of the current status quo set up but if anything good does come out of any step somehow they take, in Pakistan's interest I would say bravo!
Giving up British nationality is merely a token gesture at this stage in life and with the post to be had - use some logic - what does British nationality give you - 2 things mainly - ability to travel the world freely visa free in most cases - and financial / economic security a third may be the human rights aspect. Now i don't think a multi millionaire business man requires it for financial security for he has utilised the passport very well and managed to make millions over the years - to give it up now is not a big deal particularly as he will probably make at least 2 to 3 times his what he has made so far in this new post. On the issue of passport he will clearly now have and travel on a diplomatic passport which actually will afford him even easier means of traveling around the world and as a millionaire diplomat im sure he doesn't have much human rights abuse to fear as its those under politicians that need to fear such like........this man is nothing more than a self interested power hungry millionaire businessman - that's why he has been seen as perfect by Pakistani politicians standards Wake up world
I think his nomination will boost a confidence level lost by the investors and larger expat investments in Pakistan, specially in the Punjab. He is a fine Pakistani with a vast parliamentary knowledge. This will bring a new flavor to the post. He mentioned few of his passions for the future of the province and they are definitely appraisable. I do not agree with Mr. Leghari even though I have great respect for him as a person and a politician. Viceroy or not he is a better Pakistani than a lot of undeclared dual citizen parliamentarians as he gave up his British Nationality to serve this nation. Good Luck Mr. Governor.
Welcome Sir! Now Punjab, already a role model for other provinces, will further progress in delivering good governance.
OK, so now we don't have anyone worthy of being governor in Pakistan hence we had to import one from UK, a person who has spent decades in UK wont know anything about our problems. I am amazed why senior members of PMLN don't argue with NS when he makes such decisions.
that's a great decision. Hopefully, he will bring along with his lots of new ideas for better governance in the province
@Mansi: Goes to show someone needs to mind their own business. It's Pakistan's internal matter.
@Mansi:
Same goes for our neighbour. They replaced British with an Italian who now runs the country and calls the shots.
As Governor of Punjab Chaudhry Sarwar's legislative experience has no value whatsoever as it's just a ceremonial post with no role in legislation and his experience of a successful businessman can't add much either, unless there are other plans for this governor in Punjab.
Technically it will not be possible for Chaudhry Sarwar to become Governor of Punjab, if he is a British National.
I don't think that he would hafe relinquished his citizenship of UK when he had served for 13 years as Labour Party Member of Parliament in Glasgow, UK.
@Mansi: You hit the nail of the head. It was to enrich themselves free from Hindu competition. Never for freedom, for Islam or for the country. Just look at us?? Do you see anywhere "Unity, Faith and Discipline"?? What you see is Corruption, Racketeering and Grand Larceny.
Favoritism at its peak. A foreign national, served in foreign government, have been living abroad for a couple of decades - all is insignificant. Shame on MNS and his supporters.
A British citizen can be a Governor of a Pakistani state ?
Bizarre !
Now once again by appointing British MP Ch. Sarwar as Punjab's governor Punjab is going under British government's slavery.....
Welcome imported governor. It seems this time NS is even afraid of his party stalwarts to appoint any one of them as governor of Punjab.
Goes to show your leaders only fought for Partition, never for freedom from foreign rule.