MUZAFFARGARH, Jan 11: Infuriated at alleged interference of party colleague and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar in his constituency`s affairs, MNA Jamshed Dasti announced on Wednesday that he had decided to quit the Pakistan People`s Party (PPP) and resign from the National Assembly.

Talking to reporters at his residence, Mr Dasti alleged that Ms Khar had got posted `some corrupt officials` in his constituency and the party leadership had been unmoved despite repeated complaints.

Mr Dasti, who had become MNA after winning a by-electionin20100ntheseatthathe had won in the 2008 elections and later vacated by submitting resignation during the hearing of a fake degree case against him in the Supreme Court, said he had already dispatched his resignation to the speaker.Mr Dasti said he would contest next elections as an independent candidate against Ms Khar.

During his three years in the National Assembly, Mr Dasti always remained in the media limelight due to his controversial statements, sometimes even against the leadership of his own party, and his critical speeches in the assembly.

He had resigned as chairman of the National Assembly`s committee on sports after differences with then Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt due to his call for strict punishment to the players found involved in match-fixing.

The MNA again caught media attention some six months ago when he accused Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his family of involvement in illegal appointments in the Multan Electric Power Company. President Asif Zardari had even turned down the prime minister`s request for allocation of the party ticket to his brother and awarded it to Mr Dasti.