NAB prosecutor asked to resign after tough stance on Zulfi Bukhari’s case: reports

ISLAMABAD: 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”.

Shafique represented NAB as a prosecution team member in the Panama Papers cases and as a lead prosecutor in the 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,” Shafique stated 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 informed media that taking a tough stance in the Islamabad High Court on Monday over the dual nationality of PM’s adviser Zulfi Bukhari cost Shafique his job.

They said the special prosecutor was summoned to the NAB headquarters after the hearing and asked to resign. Sources further informed media that Shafique was told if he didn’t resign, he would be dismissed.

On the other hand, a NAB spokesman said the anti-graft body had not yet received Shafique’s resignation.