ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) on Thursday accepted Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) leader Nabeel Gabol's resignation from his NA-246 seat.

NA speaker Ayaz Sadiq had requested his presence at the assembly today to verify the resignation, however, it was verified with Gabol over the telephone as he was not available in person. The resignation report has been sent to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) which will issue a notification and declare vacancy of this constituency.

Gabol had submitted his resignation last Tuesday to the NA Secretariat, citing “personal reasons”.

Also read: Gabol resigns from National Assembly, may quit MQM

Sources close to Mr Gabol had told Dawn that the MNA had also decided to quit the party and would soon make an announcement in this regard.

“I have submitted my resignation as a member of the National Assembly as I was a misfit in the MQM,” said Mr Gabol, indicating clearly that he had made up his mind about quitting the party.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House after tendering his resignation last week, Mr Gabol denied reports that he had been forced to quit the assembly by the party leadership.

“I am not a sheep that can be forced to do anything,” he had said in response to a question. He, however, said that he had no differences with the MQM leadership.

After being practically sidelined by Pakistan Peoples Party leadership, Gabol had joined MQM in 2013 —months before the general election — to what he called “serve the people of Lyari”. Later he won NA-246 seat in Karachi on MQM’s ticket by claiming more than 100,000 votes.

Previously, Gabol has been elected MNA from Lyari in 2008 on a PPP ticket. He became minister of state for ports and shipping, but later resigned from the post. He has been winning elections from Lyari for over two decades. He has also served as deputy speaker of the Sindh Assembly.