Muhammad Zubair, former governor of Sindh and a prominent figure in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has announced his departure from the party.

Zubair, who served as a spokesperson for PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Vice President Maryam Nawaz, cited differences in ideology and the party’s changing stance as the primary reasons for his decision.

He expressed his dissatisfaction with the party’s recent political maneuvers, particularly the “power politics” that have emerged since the no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“I had made this decision a long time ago,” Zubair said, adding that he had already communicated his concerns to the PML-N leadership.

He expressed disagreement with the party’s participation in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition government and its 16-month performance.

Zubair emphasized that he has not yet decided on joining another party and will make a decision about his political future in the coming days. He stated that his decision to leave the PML-N stemmed from a fundamental shift in the party’s principles, particularly regarding the “vote ko izzat do” slogan. He believes that the party’s current focus on securing power at any cost contradicts this core principle.

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The former governor also criticized the PML-N’s recent political strategies, stating that the party’s current approach of securing power through a controversial election is not the right path. He expressed his belief that the party’s internal dynamics have become too polarized, making reconciliation difficult.

Zubair’s departure comes amidst a series of high-profile exits from the PML-N, including former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, who also left the party due to significant ideological differences.

Zubair’s political career spans several years, including his tenure as the 32nd Governor of Sindh from February 2017 to July 2018. Prior to that, he served as Chairman of the Privatization Commission and Chairman of the Board of Investment. He is also the brother of Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar.