Former Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair quits PML-N

Karachi: Former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair announced his departure from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) due to unspecified “reservations”.

Muhammad Zubair mentioned that he would decide on his future political path after consulting with his "friends".

He made this announcement in a recent interview on Sunday.

The move adds him to the list of high-profile leaders who have recently left the ruling party, including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former finance minister Miftah Ismail.

Zubair has been vocal in his criticism of the current government, established after the February 8 elections. He recently expressed his dissatisfaction with the party leadership, comparing his stance to that of Abbasi.

Following allegations by former Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chatha about manipulated election results, Zubair stated that the PML-N should “publicly accept defeat” and allow the nation to progress, although Chatha later retracted his claims.

It remains uncertain if Zubair will join another political party. Abbasi, on April 8, approached the Election Commission of Pakistan to register a new political party, while Ismail supports the creation of a party comprising individuals with "proven integrity and competence".

Zubair, a notable figure in PML-N, served as the Sindh governor from February 2, 2017, to August 2018. He is a graduate of the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) and had a successful 26-year career with IBM, working in various international locations. He became IBM Pakistan's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 1998 and was later promoted to CFO of IBM’s Middle East/Africa region in 2004.

After joining PML-N, Zubair was involved with the party's Tax Reforms Media Committee in 2012-2013 and was appointed Chairman of the Board of Investment in July 2013, serving until December that year.

He then chaired the Privatisation Commission from 2013 to 2017 and acted as spokesperson for PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

Zubair is the son of General (retd) Ghulam Umar and the elder brother of former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Asad Umar. He holds a master's degree in business administration from IBA and has experience as a Board of Directors member and a financial management instructor at IBA.