• He had termed govt's inability to secure visit from Obama 'a diplomatic failure'

JALIL HASSAN AKHTAR

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar on Thursday resigned from his post, saying he could not contribute much in solving the problems of the masses as the country's political system served "only the elite class".

Addressing a press conference here Thursday, a visibly dejected Sarwar stated that country's political system had failed to serve ordinary people as incidents of injustice and lawlessness were on the rise.

Pointing towards chronic shortcomings in the social sector, he said he could not do much for the overseas Pakistanis. Sarwar said that despite his hectic efforts, local bodies elections were not being held in Punjab.

He further stated that the cases of acid throwing, rapes, kidnapping of minor children and their murders were on the rise while ordinary people were running from pillar to post to get justice.

Sarwar said he would struggle for the rights of labourers, farmers and those segments of society "that are suffering while being outside the Governor's House." He said it was highly unfortunate that as many as 23 million children of the country, who should have been in schools, were working as labourers.

He said it was highly pitiable that even after our existence of 68 years, half of the population of country was still facing the shortage of clean water.

Talking about his 18-month tenure as governor, he said that GSP Plus status for Pakistan, struggle for provision of clean water to the poor and adherence to merit in Aitcheson College were some of his achievements.

Sarwar said that the visit of US President Barack Obama to India had hurt the feelings of people in Pakistan.

He said it was surprising that 1.5 billion Muslims had no seat on the Security Council.

Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar said he was thankful to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who had made him governor after the 2013 election.

Sarwar met Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. In that meeting Rana Sanaullah was also present.

AFP adds: 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."

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.

"The former governor left Governor House immediately after the press conference as a house was hired for him this morning," the staffer told AFP on condition of anonymity.

At his press conference on Thursday, Sarwar slammed the government for failing to address a widening poverty gap and doing more on crime.

"I want to see a Pakistan where the son of a farmer, a cobbler, an ironsmith can also go to the parliament and not just the sons of businessman and industrialists," he said.