Sarwar’s appointment widely praised in Britain

LONDON: Britain’s first Muslim parliamentarian Mohammad Sarwar’s appointment as the Governor of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has been widely hailed in the British media, mainstream political circles and within the British Pakistani community.
Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Senior Minister of State at the Foreign Office & Minister for Faith & Communities congratulated Sarwar on his appointment and wished him luck. Warsi told The News: “I know Mohammad Sarwar will rise to the challenges of the role and he will also help in building upon the strong relationship between the UK and Pakistan.”
Former British prime minister, now UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown hailed the appointment as a “great day for education” in Pakistan and vowed to work with his former Labour Party colleague.
The former Labour lead said: “Mohammad Sarwar’s appointment will be widely welcomed across the world, especially in Britain and Pakistan. His career in public life has been distinguished by his long-term commitment to social justice. He will now be able to make his mark in Punjab province, home to 100 million people.”
Sarwar said it is a “high honour” to be “invited to serve the country of my birth and the people of Pakistan” and that he was not naive about the challenges which lie ahead. “This is a big job but it is one I will approach with the same values and principles I have stood up for all my life: to help lift people out of poverty and support them to fulfil their life chances. I believe the best route to meeting that goal is through education and I look forward to working with a dynamic chief minister, many friends and colleagues across Pakistan and the world to achieve that.”
Shahid Malik, who under Gordon Brown served as International Development Minister and Justice Minister, gave a very favourable view of the likely contribution that Mohammed Sarwar could make to Pakistan.
Malik told The News: “At a time when most people are willing to give up their Pakistan passports to come to the UK, here we have an individual who is willing to give up his British passport to go to Pakistan and to play a role in its development – that speaks volumes about the intentions of Mohammed Sarwar. It is a huge step to give up British nationality and engage in the politics of Pakistan and I have no doubt that he will serve with honour and distinction, as he has in the UK, and Inshallah he will help contribute to a better Pakistan.”
Faiz Rasool, chairman and founder of Labour Friends of Pakistan, said: “Sarwar has the integrity, skills, experience, tenacity and vision to make a real difference to the lives of people in Pakistan. Governor Sarwar will be a bridge between Pakistan and the UK and we look forward to working with the Government of Pakistan to build stronger and deeper ties across trade, education, health, culture and tourism.”
Mohammad Sarwar, who left the UK parliament in 2010, played a prominent role during 11th May elections and campaigned alongside Nawaz Sharif in several constituencies. His son Anas Sarwar is Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Member of Parliament for Glasgow Central. Anas told The News: “This is a proud moment for him and our family. There’s a mix of happiness and sadness, sadness that my father will be leaving us in Scotland and starting a new chapter of his life in Pakistan. But a greater happiness because I know how much he is relishing the challenge of going back to the place of his birth to make a difference. His mind and body may have been in Britain but his heart has always remained in Pakistan.”
Almost every newspaper and television in England and Wales carried the news of Sarwar’s appointment because of his high profile in the Labour Party and the high-profile controversies he has been. BBC said that Sarwar’s dual British and Pakistani citizenship held up his appointment but he gave up his British nationality to take up the role.
The Telegraph said Sarwar was returning the country of his birth because he believed his experience as an MP, select committee chairman and successful businessman in Britain could help poor families in Pakistan. The paper said that Nawaz Sharif sought to reward Sarwar for his role by inviting him to be his new High Commissioner in London but Mr Sawar rejected the offer in favour of a return to Pakistan.
“I can be a bridge between overseas Pakistanis and Pakistanis here and work for the betterment of both,” Reuters quoted Sarwar as saying. “I believe life is in the hands of God. If you are in politics, you have to do the right thing and some people are not going to like it.”