Pakistani minister resigns after Canadian's death

ISLAMABAD, June 12 (Reuters) A Pakistani government minister handed in his resignation today, three days after a Canadian woman with whom he had been sharing a house died.

Minister of State for Communications Muhammad Shahid Jamil Qureshi took Kafila Siddiqui, a 40-year-old Canadian of Pakistani origin, to hospital on Saturday where she was pronounced dead, police said.

Siddiqui's brothers have filed a complaint with police, accusing Qureshi of confining her against her will, said police, who are investigating.

''I have handed in my resignation to the prime minister because I don't want to give the impression I'm using my official capacity as a state minister to influence the case,'' Qureshi told a news conference.

''I will face all legal proceeding against me and time will tell that I'm innocent,'' he said.

Qureshi, a member of President Pervez Musharraf's ruling party, said Siddiqui had died of natural causes. He said he had found her vomiting on the floor at the house where they had been staying and had taken her to hospital.

He said Siddiqui had been running a consultancy aimed at attracting Canadian investment.

Reuters AKD VP0043