ISLAMABAD, Oct 15. Renowned poet and intellectual Iftikhar Arif has resigned from the post of chairman Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) amidst reports that a lobby within the ruling PPP was campaigning to bring in their favourite by dislodging him.

Sources in the government said the resignation was sent earlier this week but so far Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has not accepted it. The sources said the prime minister was quite reluctant to replace him mainly because of Mr Arif’s meritorious contribution to the world of literature and more so in promoting the academy as its chairman.

When contacted by Dawn, Iftikhar Arif declined to comment on the matter. However, sources said the resignation was submitted following a recent whispering campaign by a section within the PPP against him and more so in support of appointing one of the literary figures from within the party

Iftikhar Arif has remained chairman of the academy since 2000. During this period, he used his intellectual capabilities to give a new flip to the institution by restoring its image as the centre of literature and knowledge. During his tenure, a record number of books, literary journals and publications in all the national and regional languages were published by the academy.

Previously, Mr Arif had also served at top position in other institutes linked to the literary world. At present, he is regarded as one of the best poets of Urdu language in the country.