—Akbar says will remain associated with PTI
—Hopes anti-corruption drive will continue
— PM was disappointed with Akbar’s performance
By Minahil Makhdoom
ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Accountability and Interior Shahzad Akbar on Monday announced that he had tendered his resignation from the top post.
In a tweet, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader said he would remain associated with the PTI and keep “contributing as [a] member of legal fraternity”. Akbar hoped the accountability drive will continue under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s leadership as per “PTI’s manifesto”.
Akbar had been serving as the special assistant to the PM (SAPM) on accountability and interior since the PTI government came into power in August 2018. However, on July 23, 2020, he was upgraded as an adviser to the PM with the authority of a federal minister.
Reacting to Akbar’s seemingly surprise resignation, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said “more important” work was now waiting for him.
He further commended Akbar for working under “tremendous pressure” and added it was never easy to “take on mafia”.
PML-N’s Muhammad Zubair, however, accused Akbar of “messing up and wasting national resources” and said the PML-N always knew the premier’s aide would fail.
Zubair further termed Akbar’s resignation “jumping ship” at the right time and said he has “proven to be a smart person”.
The PML-N leader also claimed that all cases were “made up” in order to bring Imran Khan “in power”.
Last week, Sarina Isa, wife of Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Isa, had approached the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to initiate proceedings against Akbar and the incumbent law minister among others.
Isa said Akbar, who headed the Assets Recovery Unit (ARU), did not disclose the assets recovered by the ARU. She had questioned the accountability czar about the assets owned by him and his family.
Akbar, however, termed the allegations against him baseless and served her with a defamation notice.
