THE UK’s first Muslim MP is tipped to become Pakistan’s next foreign secretary.
Mohammad Sarwar, who was Labour MP for Glasgow Govan and Glasgow Central from 1997 to 2010, is expected to serve under the country’s new prime minister, Imran Khan.
Mr Sarwar, who was governor of Punjab from 2013 to 2015, is currently aligned with Mr Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and is a Pakistan senator.
The PTI become the largest party in Pakistan’s national assembly in last week’s general election under Mr Khan, who is close to Mr Sarwar.
Mr Khan, a former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, won on an anti-corruption ticket.
His critics accuse of him being the tool of Pakistan’s military and security services.
Born is Faisalbad, Mr Sarwar, 65, moved to Scotland in the early 1970s and became a millionaire by building a cash-and-carry business with his brother.
His son Anas Sarwar is a former Labour MP and current Labour MSP for Glasgow.
A source close to Mr Sarwar senior said: “Imran Khan has won the election and Mohammad Sarwar played a key role in securing the result.
“Imran will lead a radical government, and foreign policy will be a key priority for the new prime minister. All appointments are just speculation at this stage.
“But Mohammad has experience of international politics and a strong reputation for diplomacy. He is a principled energetic senator.”
Famous for building a political machine in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar senior returned to Scotland last year in a failed attempt to secure his son the Scottish Labour leadership.
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