ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday de-notified Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid’s (PML-Q) Ghaus Baksh Mehar from the portfolio of Federal Minister for Privatisation, DawnNews reported.

However, Mehar claimed he was not sacked and had resigned of his own will, having presented his resignation to party chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Oct 31.

The former minister was elected on a PML-Q ticket from Sindh and appointed as privatisation minister minister during former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's tenure.

Mehar said he had resigned from his post due to differences with the government.

According to some sources, the former lawmaker had developed differences with the government over the issue of the Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO), while others said he had contacted the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PML-Functional (PML-F) due to his discontentment with the government.

Earlier this year, his son Shaheryar Mehar had also resigned from his position in the Sindh Cabinet over difference with the government.