LAHORE, June 7: Punjab Finance Minister Rana Asif Mahmood said on Thursday he had requested his party leadership to relieve him of his charge.

He told reporters at the assembly chamber that a legislator from his own party (PML-N) had conspired against him and handed over his CNIC in which it was erroneously mentioned that he was a Muslim to the opposition to exploit the issue. He said Nadra had admitted its mistake and was removing it.

He said PML-Q’s Samina Khawar Hayat and PTI’s Inamullah Niazi issued provocative statements against him about his religion. “Who will be responsible if I am assassinated as they declared me ‘wajbul qatal’ (liable to be murdered),” he asked.

Answering a question about his dual nationality, he said the matter was sub judice and he would not comment on it.

He said the parliamentarians were being defamed in the name of dual nationality. He said the expatriates who contributed a lot to the country’s economy were worried about the situation.

The PML-N leadership is likely to accept his request on Friday (today).