Could this former Labour MP become President of Pakistan?

There was an interesting development over the weekend, picked up by the Scottish papers but largely ignored by the rest of the press, about a significant career change for a former Labour MP. No, it’s not a corporate board this time – instead, Britain’s first Muslim MP Mohammad Sarwar is heading back to his birth country of Pakistan to become governor of the Punjab – a region with a population in excess of 94 million.

To do so, Sarwar has been forced to renounce his British nationality in order to avoid being in conflict with Pakistan’s laws that bar dual-national from holding elected office. It is believed that becoming Governor of the Punjab might be the first step towards Sarwar becoming President of Pakistan at a later date. The Daily Record reported:

Sarwar played a key role in this year’s Pakistani election which saw the centre-right PML-N party gain a majority in Islamabad. The Pakistani government were expected to reward him with an appointment as High Commissioner in London but it is understood he declined the post.

Sarwar was then called to Pakistan and told that a more ambitious appointment was being considered for him. Prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif are keen to assign him a key post, according to reports in the Pakistan media.

The centre-right PML-N make somewhat unusual bedfellows for a Labour politician, but the politics of Pakistan are rarely straight forward. His son, Anas, who is of course the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, wished him well, saying:

“Usually it is the father that expresses pride in their son, but I’m glad to wish my father good luck as he takes up a new political challenge in Pakistan.”

Best of luck to Mohammad Sarwar – this will be worth keeping an eye on…