KARACHI, Nov 2: Chief Controller of the Karachi Building Control Authority (KBCA) Brig (r) A. S. Nasir on Wednesday tendered his resignation after getting embarrassed over the recent arrest of his most-trusted lieutenant by the Anti- corruption Establishment (ACE).

Officials of the ACE, in a raid on Monday last, had arrested Akhlaque Ahmed, an ex-official of the KBCA, allegedly for continuing to perform his official duties unlawfully as his contract of appointment as coordinator to the KBCA chief had lapsed in June 2005. He and his assistant Moinuddin Sharif are still in custody of the ACE which is carrying out investigation.

In his resignation letter addressed to the Sindh governor, copies of which were sent to the chief secretary and city nazim, the Brig Nasir has stated: “Of late, the incident of raid by ACE has not only embarrassed me but has derailed the KBCA. As such it is prudent that I choose an honourable course of action to vacate my chair. I, therefore, tender my resignation without any external pressure. My departure will enable Engineer Rauf Akhtar Farooqui, OSD (BPS-20), to continue and obtain your guidance.”

The KBCA chief has, however, requested the governor to allow him to retain his official residence for a period of three months and avail KBCA transport facility since he had taken the decision in haste.

Shortly after tendering his resignation, Brig Nasir, during his farewell address to the KBCA officials, reinstated around 20 officials who included a controller, deputy controllers, assistant controllers, etc.

According to sources, the KBCA chief was interrogated by ACE officials for a couple of hours on Tuesday.