ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain has decided to resign on pursuance of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
However, President Mamnoon Hussain took the position that he will tender the resignation after taking oath of office by Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan as Prime Minister of Pakistan and his visit to the United Kingdom.
Reliable sources told Independent News Pakistan (INP) after the general elections, Nawaz Sharif had also advised Governor Punjab Rafique Rajwana and Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Zafar Iqbal Jhagra to resign, but they refused.
Whereas Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair accepted his leader’s advice giving his resignation forthwith that had been accepted by the President. Notification of acceptance of resignation has been issued.
It is learnt that head of PML-N and the former PM Nawaz Sharif had conveyed his message to President of Pakistan through the former governor of Sindh Muhammad Zubair asking him to resign.
Sources further said that the President has agreed in principle to give his resignation. However, he contended that he would do so after his visit to UK on August 15 where he will be given honorary degree by a British university.
The President showed his willingness to accept the Nawaz Sharif proposal after his return from UK. Sources further said Muhammad Zubair left his office as governor Sindh on the advice of Nawaz Sharif.
While refusing to resign, Rafique Rajwana gave the justification that since the PML-N emerged as largest party in Punjab, he would like to use his office to persuade independent members of Punjab to join PML-N and by leaving the office of governorship, he will not be able to do so.
Iqbal Zafar Jhagra while refusing to follow his leader’s advice made this excuse that it will not be appropriate to resign from his office before giving oath to new chief minister of KP.
Sources further said the messages of President Mamnoon Husain, governor Punjab and governor KP have been conveyed to Mian Nawaz Sharif in Adila Jail.
It may be mentioned here that Mamnoon Hussain was elected as president of Pakistan in September 2013 after completing the tenure of presidential office by Asif Ali Zardari.
Mian Nawaz Sharif has preferred Mamnoon Husain for the highest slot in place of former foreign minister Sartaj Aziz who was considered much stronger candidate for the post of president. It was an exclusive decision of Nawaz Sharif to appoint Mamnoon Hussain as President of Pakistan. The five-year presidential tenure of Mamnoon Hussain is going end on September 9, 2013.
Rafique Rajwana was appointed as governor of Punjab following the resignation of PTI’s leader Chaudary Muhammad Sarwar.
The son of Rafique Rajwana was also awarded ticket of PML-N to contest elections of the Punjab assembly.
Iqbal Zafar Jhagra had been the central secretary general of PML-N. He has taken over the governorship after the resignation of Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan. INP