KARACHI: The Pakistan Peoples Party has asked Syed Faisal Raza Abidi, a senator from Sindh, to quit his seat.

In a letter addressed to Senator Abidi, PPP Secretary General Raja Pervez Ashraf asked him to submit his resignation within a week at the party office in Islamabad.

Mr Abidi, once among the most trusted lieutenants of former president Asif Zardari, was accused of violating party discipline and repeatedly issuing statements in favour of martial law.

A media release of the PPP said that the decision was taken on the directives of top leadership of the party.

The PPP has a majority in the 168-member Sindh Assembly and unlike any other parliamen-tary group, it could easily secure the senate seat to be vacated by Mr Abidi in a by-election.

Mr Abidi was not available for comment.