LAHORE: The resignation of Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmud, tendered after the May elections, was accepted by President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.

“A notification in this regard will be issued on Wednesday,” the outgoing governor told Dawn on Tuesday.

“I had resigned from the office on May 11 on moral grounds after the defeat of the Pakistan Peoples Party in Punjab but the president did not accept it, as the transition of power was not completed,” he said. Later Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif asked him to continue till the conclusion of the provincial assembly’s budget session.

The former governor said he was ready to accept any position in the party. “My first job is to strengthen the PPP and do service for my party.”

Makhdoom Mahmud is an influential politician of Rahimyar Khan district and his two sons are parliamentarians. He remained in office for about seven months. He and his sons joined the PPP after quitting the PML-Functional in December.

Punjab PPP’s information secretary Raja Amir said Mr Mahmud might be made a member of the party’s central executive committee. “Mr Mahmud will also be given an important position in the party,” he said.

The Makhdoom may be considered for the post of Punjab PPP chief after the merger of the central and south chapters.

On the other hand, the PML-N leadership is yet to decide on a suitable candidate for the office of Punjab governor.

Speaker Rana Iqbal is taking the charge of acting governor.

Three PML-N senators — Jaffar Iqbal, Zulifqar Khosa and Rafiq Rajwana — are reported to be lobbying for the slot.

Sources said the party leadership was taking time because it was looking for a ‘docile’ person.

Our Staff Reporter in Islamabad adds: According to President Asif Ali Zardari’s spokesman, the president, on the advice of the prime minister, approved the resignation and appointed the speaker of the Punjab Assembly to perform the functions of the governor till the appointment of a new governor.