KARACHI, July 9: Federal Minister for Housing Syed Safwanullah of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement resigned on Monday in compliance with his party’s directive. Party sources told Dawn that the decision to remove Mr Safwanullah was taken at a meeting of the MQM coordination committee held two days ago. On Sunday he handed over his resignation to the party.

The sources said that Mr Safwanullah was asked to resign because he failed to meet party’s expectations regarding serving the masses because of his old age.

However, he would continue to function as a member of the National Assembly. The sources said that MNA Hyder Abbas Rizvi was likely to replace him.

Last week, Dr Aamir Liaquat Hussain resigned as minister of state for religious affairs and also from the National Assembly seat for ‘personal reasons’. The MQM has not announced anyone’s name as his replacement.

Amir Wasim adds from Islamabad: Reliable sources said that the prime minister had accepted Mr Safwanullah’s resignation and handed over additional responsibility of his ministry to Minister for Ports and Shipping Babar Khan Ghouri, who also belongs to the MQM.