Former Glasgow MP Mohammad Sarwar has resigned as governor of Punjab in Pakistan, denying reports he was forced to step down after just 18 months.
The 62-year-old, the UK's first Muslim MP when elected in 1997, had been embroiled in a number of high-profile rows with Pakistan's prime minister and senior government figures in recent months.
Earlier this week he attacked the government for its failure to secure a visit by Barack Obama to Pakistan while the US President was on an official visit to neighbouring India.
He had also recently criticised the governance of Pakistan and infuriated its leadership with a visit in London to an exiled and controversial political leader.
Although expected to return to Scotland to support the re-election of his son, Glasgow Central MP Anas Sarwar, in May's General Election, the former Governor, who gave up his UK citizenship to take up the job, said he intends to die in Pakistan.
He said: "I resigned as Punjab governor on my own and no one asked me to quit.
"I want to witness a democracy where a common man's son can get the same opportunities and rights as the elite in this country.
"I sent my resignation to the President's house and prime minister's house last night. I decided a while back that I want to resign because I was not being able to deliver what I wanted to the masses.
"No one asked me for an explanation nor asked me for a resignation."
Reports in the Pakistani media stated that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to remove Mr Sarwar for several reasons reasons but particularly the statement on the government's failure to secure Obama's visit.
He gad accused Sharif's administration of diplomatic failure that Obama had visited India, signing a civil nuclear deal.
It was reported that Mr Sarwar had been eyeing the foreign minister's post but that the prime minister had refused to accept the request.
Pakistani media have also claimed Mr Sarwar had upset the prime minister due to his close relations with Sharif's rivals, including Pakistani Muslim League chief Chaudhry Shujaat Husain
Speaking to the media after his resignation Mr Sarwar said: "I have no objection to Obama's India visit but he should have treated Pakistan equally and visited to express solidarity.
"I can serve Pakistan better out of office. I will live and die in Pakistan."
He added that out-of-school children, lack of access to clean water, and threats to minorities were not being addressed Pakistan and said he would campaign aggressively for local-government elections in all provinces.
Earlier in the day, in a series of tweets using the hashtag #BraveManMuhammadSarwar, he added: "I wanted to serve my people and attain justice for the overseas Pakistanis.
"Unfortunately, the injustice and corruption prevalent in Pakistan is very deep rooted and backed by bureaucracy.
In a statement Anas Sarwar said: "A sad day for Pakistan. Sarwar snr has resigned as governor of Punjab. He is an honest man doing the honest thing.
"We know that he is a straight talker who doesn't do compromises. No compromises on corruption. It remains deep rooted and backed by bureaucracy.
"No compromises on democracy: unacceptable to repeatedly cancel local government elections. No compromises on education for all: he had a plan and international partners but little interest.
"No compromises on justice for all. I am proud of him. He will always do his best to serve the people. If only Pakistan had more like him."
Mr Sarwar was born in Punjab and came to the UK in the 1970s. He became governor of Punjab in 2013.
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