ISLAMABAD: Before his departure to Nepal, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday accepted the resignation of Federal Minister for Science and Technology Zahid Hamid.

"PM has accepted Zahid Hamid's resignation on his request," chief spokesman of the government and Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told Dawn.

Last week, Hamid had tendered his resignation hours after the special court hearing the treason trial against former military ruler Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf named him as one of the abettors of the former president. In its ruling, the court has directed the government to include Hamid as one of the co-accused alongside former PM Shaukat Aziz and former CJP Abdul Hameed Dogar. His resignation was not accepted at that time.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had dismissed speculation that Hamid's resignation came in the wake of the inclusion of his name in the charge sheet.

Take a look: Federal minister Zahid Hamid tenders resignation

Political career

Hamid was born on October 24, 1947 in Lahore. He completed his BA Honours and MA from Cambridge University UK and LLB degree from Punjab University.

He is a lawyer by profession and has been a civil servant and an industrialist with legislative interests in environment, finance and law.

Following Musharraf's military takeover in 1999, Hamid defected to the breakaway faction of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) called the Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) and was elected MNA from NA-114, Sialkot-V in the 2002 election.

Hamid had held the portfolio of law minister in the Musharraf government and was said to be a close aide of the former army strongman. Before the 2008 elections, he joined the PML-N.

Following the PML's victory in the May 2013 general election, Hamid was assigned the law ministry’s portfolio which was later withdrawn after filing of a petition seeking his trial along with Musharraf for high treason since he was the law minister in the former president's cabinet as well. He was subsequently allocated the portfolio of science and technology.

Explore: Zahid Hamid the indispensable?