Pakistan’s governor resigns as rival party wins polls

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AA) - The governor of Pakistan’s southeastern province of Sindh on Sunday announced his resignation after the center-right party of former cricket hero Imran Khan won the July 25 elections.

Speaking at a news conference, Muhammad Zubair said that he was appointed by the previous government and that the new federal government should have the authority to appoint the governor of its choice.

He was appointed by former premier Nawaz Sharif as governor of Sindh in January 2017.

Zubair is the brother of Asad Umar, who is a key leader of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and won his National Assembly seat from the capital Islamabad.

Before the elections, Khan had announced that Umar would be his finance minister if his party comes to power.

Zubair also expressed reservations over the polling process.

"I don't think there is any doubt left that the 2018 elections were managed to make a particular party win, and that too in a way that it is easily able to form the government," he alleged.

In the July 25 elections, the PTI, which emerged as the single largest party but fell short of simple majority in the National Assembly, will have to seek formal support from smaller parties or independents to form the next government.