ISLAMABAD, Sept 16: Senior vice-president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Lt-Gen (retd) Majeed Malik on Sunday quit his party post, citing what he called his inability to do much for the party.

Independent sources, however, linked the resignation to deportation of Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia despite the party’s recommendation to allow Mr Sharif a free hand and confront him politically.

When asked for comment, Gen Malik said: “I have resigned from the party’s vice-presidentship, but not from the party membership or the CWC.”

Giving reasons for the decision, he said he quit the post because he could not contribute much to the party as an office-bearer.

A close confidant of Nawaz Sharif till his ouster and deportation, Gen Malik had a tiff with the Chaudhrys of Gujarat during the local council elections when the party leadership did not let him contest for the post of Chakwal district Nazism. Since then, Gen Malik has been keeping a low profile.

The sources said Gen Malik was unhappy over the way the leadership worked and avoided holding regular meetings to discuss important issues.

He is stated to be a staunch supporter of Gen Pervez Musharraf, but against holding talks for power-sharing only with the PPP.