ISLAMABAD: After a 42-day battle of nerves and resistance against what he called ‘indifferent’ attitude of the PML-N government, National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) Chairman Tariq Malik finally gave up and resigned on Friday.

“Having served my country and Nadra with honesty, integrity and distinction for more than five-and-a-half years, I believe it’s now in the best interest of the organisation to resign from my office,” the resignation said.

Mr Malik gave his resignation to the interior secretary and it was forwarded to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for approval.

The prime minister approved the resignation and appointed Imtiaz Tajwar, an additional secretary in the interior ministry, as acting chairman of Nadra.

The government did not want to see Mr Malik in the office of Nadra chairman and his service was terminated without any notice on Dec 2, but he was restored the following day on the orders of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). However, since then, a series of allegations have been levelled against him by the interior minister and, according to sources close to him, pressure tactics were used to compel him to leave his office.

The sources said the trouble for the Nadra chairman had begun when he was about to start thumb verification of votes of some constituencies in Punjab from where senior PML-N leaders had won in the general elections. The verifications had to be carried out on the directives of election tribunals, but the Nadra chief was allegedly pressured to avoid the exercise.

The Federal Investigation Agency started an inquiry against Mr Malik, he was barred from travelling abroad and contacting the media and in the latest development the interior ministry formed a board in Nadra to run the affairs of the authority and the chairman’s office was sealed, the sources said.

They said the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s Chairman Chaudhry Rashid was also facing a similar situation. He has gone on leave and is expected to resign soon.

The IHC had reserved its judgment in Mr Malik’s case and is expected to announce it after Jan 13.

The interior ministry had asked Mr Malik to provide no objection certificates issued for his official foreign tours and notifications of his appointment as deputy chairman and chairman of Nadra.

Mr Malik, who has served on many top positions in Nadra, was appointed chairman on July 17, 2012.

According to a press release, Mr Tajwar will serve as acting chairman till the Nadra board meets to select an interim chairman.

The process for the appointment of the new chairman on open merit through advertisement in accordance with the Nadra Ordinance will be initiated in a few days.