Standard Chartered remains committed to Islamic banking and expects growth in its core markets, a spokesman for the lender said on Sunday, after the head of its Islamic arm departed. Afaq Khan left Standard Chartered Saadiq, the lender’s global Islamic banking business, after 12 years with the Asia-focused bank to take a career break, the spokesman said. “Standard Chartered remains committed to our Islamic banking business, and we continue to position ourselves for further growth in the core markets where the largest Islamic banking opportunities exist,” the spokesman said.