ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s adviser on accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar said he has sent his resignation to PM Khan today.
“I have tendered my resignation today to PM as Advisor. I sincerely hope the process of accountability continues under leadership of PM IK as per PTI’s manifesto. I will remain associated with party and keep contributing as member of legal fraternity,” Shahzad Akbar said in his twitter message today.
Sources claimed that a few days ago, PM Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with performance of Shahzad Akbar in a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Imran Khan was unhappy with what was described as a slow pace of trials in mega corruption cases. He conveyed to Akbar that he was annoyed with his performance.
Importantly, Shahzad Akbar’s resignation comes a day after Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he would become dangerous if he came on roads. Indirectly, he hinted at any move that removes him from the government as Prime Minister.
Also, some PTI cabinet members, including Shaikh Rasheed said that Shahzad Akbar was directly managing the accountability issues through FIA and NAB and he (Akbar) was responsible for slow accountability process.
Meanwhile, the PM said that those who had been indicted in corruption cases worth billions of dollars are portraying themselves as innocent. He remarked that open-and-shut cases were being delayed due to poor prosecution.
The prime minister is looking for Akbar’s replacement and has conducted interviews of some candidates.
In July 2020, Shahzad Akbar was elevated from his post as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Accountability to Advisor to the Prime Minister on accountability and interior, with the status of federal minister.
Shahzad Akbar, who is a lawyer and legal adviser by profession, is a former deputy prosecutor for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). He is also the founder, legal director and a trustee of the Foundation for Fundamental Rights.
Just days ago, Akbar said that it is most likely that self-exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the prime suspect in the Rana Shamim Affidavit case, will be made part of the contempt of court proceedings in the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
Former Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Chief Judge Rana Mohammad Shamim in his “sealed” affidavit had accused former Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) of trying to manipulate the outcome of a case involving Nawaz Sharif.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, Akbar casted doubts over the timing of unveiling or notarizing of the affidavit saying that it clearly indicates ill intentions of the “beneficiaries” who wanted to “influence” the outcome of appeals filed by ex-premier Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, requesting the IHC to set aside their convictions in corruption references.
