Islamabad: The governor of Pakistan’s most populous and politically dominant province of Punjab, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar, resigned on Thursday, expressing disgust over the state of affairs in the country.

Announcing his resignation at a news conference in the provincial capital, Lahore, he said he was unable to achieve what he had set out to do.

A former British politician and wealthy businessman, Sarwar had been chosen by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for the gubernatorial post, which he assumed in August 2013.

His resignation was accepted and Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Iqbal has taken over as acting governor.

“I want to witness a democracy where a common man’s son can get the same opportunities and rights as the elite in this country,” Sarwar said.

He said he had no differences with the prime minister and that he has resigned of his own will and not under any pressure.

On Tuesday, he had publicly voiced resentment over the government’s failure to secure a visit to Pakistan by US President Barack Obama when he went to India this week.

Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore he had stated that it was a “diplomatic failure” of the government that Obama visited India and bypassed Pakistan.

On Thursday, Sarwar said, “We have no objection to Obama’s India visit, but Obama should have treated Pakistan equally and visited Islamabad to express solidarity.”

Local media reports said the government had sought an explanation from Sarwar over his statement after which he handed in his resignation.

Government sources said that the criticism by Sarwar had disturbed Sharif.

“I can serve Pakistan better out of office,” he said, adding that “I will live and die in Pakistan.”

He said that he wants to continue to help Pakistan in creating such a society where progress can be ensured for all people.

Sarwar served as a Labour paralimentarian in Britain from 1997 to 2010.

He was also the first Muslim to sit in the British parliament. He renounced his British citizenship in 2013.

Obama’s unprecedented second visit to India recently has echoed heavily in Pakistan, a Cold War-era ally of the US.

Sharif was also upset with Sarwar for meeting with exiled MQM chief Altaf Hussain in London without his consent.

Besides, Sarwar has close relations with Sharif’s rivals — PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pakistan Awami Tehreek chief Tahirul Qadri.