ISLAMABAD: Mohammad Sarwar, a UK-based Pakistani businessman, was appointed governor of Punjab by President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday.

Mr Sarwar is said to be a close aide to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and he recently ceded British citizenship. Before his appointment he had dual nationality and under the constitution a person having dual nationality cannot hold any public office in the country.

The president’s spokesman, Farhatullah Babar, said he had appointed Mr Sarwar as governor of Punjab on the advice of the prime minister.

“In terms of Article 101(1) of the constitution, the governor of a province is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister,” he said.

The post was vacant since the resignation of former governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood.