ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) Tariq Malik sent his resignation to the Interior Ministry on Friday, DawnNews reported.

Malik said his resignation was due to personal engagements. However, sources told DawnNews that he was rendered powerless in Nadra and added that he resigned keeping in mind the larger interest of the company.

Two days earlier, a seven-member board had been established in Nadra and all powers had been shifted to it. The Interior Secretary had been made chairman of the board.

Earlier on Dec 2, the government had sacked Mr Malik without any notice but he was restored by the Islamabad High Court the next day.

He had also faced a barrage of allegations levelled against him by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar who had accused Malik of undertaking over 100 foreign visits in five years without approval of the competent authority, violating PPRA rules in procurement, possessing the nationalities of four countries and telling lies about his educational qualifications.

In a letter sent to the secretary interior, the Nadra chief had denied having undertaken over 100 foreign trips during the last five years.

He said all his foreign visits as the chairman Nadra had been approved by the prime minister.