Zulfi Bukhari’s prosecutor resigns to become ‘independent lawyer’

–Sources claim NAB told Imran Shafique to ‘either resign or face dismissal’ after he took tough stance in dual nationality case against PM’s friend

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) special prosecutor in the Zulfi Bukhari case, Imran Shafique, on Tuesday tendered his resignation after reportedly being ordered to either resign or face dismissal for taking a tough stance in the dual nationality case of prime minister’s close friend and special assistant.

Although Shafique has claimed that he’s resigning from the case to join the Islamabad Bar Association as an “independent professional lawyer”, sources privy to the development said that the prosecutor traded barbs during a heated debate with Zulfi Bukhari outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) after Monday’s hearing.

The sources claimed that the special prosecutor was later summoned to the NAB headquarters and asked to resign.

“Shafique was told that if he didn’t resign, he would be dismissed,” the sources claimed.

In addition to representing NAB in the case against the appointment of Bukhari, the PM’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development, Shafique was the accountability watchdog’s special prosecutor in many high-profile cases such as in the corruption reference against former finance minister Ishaq Dar, which subsequently led to Dar’s assets being confiscated, and appeals against the acquittal of former president Asif Ali Zardari in corruption cases.

In his resignation letter, Shafique wrote: “I realise my national duty to combat corruption, and as a lead prosecutor in Ishaq Dar’s case I would be available to offer my assistance, even after leaving NAB.”

“On account of some personal reasons, I find myself unable to continue with NAB any further, thus constrained to tender instant resignation.”

Shafique was inducted into NAB as special prosecutor in May 2017 and has described his time serving NAB as a “great and profound learning experience”.

The NAB spokesman said that the bureau had not yet received Shafique’s resignation.

According to reports, prior to joining NAB, Shafique was serving as an associate to former IHC justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who was removed from his post by the president on the recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).