Imran Shafique, special prosecutor with National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Rawalpindi, tendered his resignation on Tuesday to the prosecutor general of the anti-graft body citing ‘personal reasons’,
Special prosecutor Shafique cited his wish to join the Islamabad Bar Association as an ‘independent professional lawyer.’ It is worth mentioning that Shafique was the lead prosecutor in reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar. He was also assigned the task of conducting appeals against the acquittal of former president Asif Ali Zardari.
“My service with the NAB has been a great and profound learning experience. I tried to perform my duties to the best of my abilities,” wrote Shafique in his resignation letter. “On account of some personal reasons, I find myself unable to continue with NAB any further, thus constrained to tender instant resignation.”
However, sources told media that the prosecutor resigned because he took a tough stance in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) during a hearing pertaining to the dual nationality of PM advisor Zulfi Bukhari on Monday. According to the said sources, the special prosecutor was summoned to the NAB headquarters after the hearing and asked to resign or he would be dismissed.
However, NAB spokesman said that the bureau had not received Shafique’s resignation yet.
Published in Daily Times, December 5th 2018.
