President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar said that he is not aware whether or not Irfan Qadir has sent his resignation to the president.—File photo

ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau’s Prosecutor General Irfan Qadir, who challenged the Supreme Court’s orders regarding his removal, has tendered his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari, according to sources in the presidency.

Mr Qadir, who is said to be a friend of Mr Zardari, had resigned a few days ago but the president asked him to continue to hold the office.

However, Mr Qadir has not been attending the office but the official residence allotted to him in Sector F-6 is still in his possession.

The sources said on instructions of the president Mr Qadir did not withdraw his appeal filed before the apex court challenging its order which had declared his appointment as ‘illegal’.

It may be mentioned here that although the Supreme Court and Prime Minister Gilani had ordered his removal, no official notification to that effect was issued by the law ministry and Establishment Division.

President’s spokesman Farhatullah Babar told Dawn that he was not aware whether or not Mr Qadir had sent his resignation to the president.

The apex court on Sept 1 declared the appointment of Mr Qadir illegal and ordered his removal.

Later, the prime minister ordered the withdrawal of privileges to the NAB prosecutor general a day after his outburst in the Supreme Court that he would not step down.

The prime minister had said that Supreme Court orders would be implemented in letter and spirit and that he had issued orders to law secretary for implementation.

Mr Qadir once asserted that he was bound by orders issued only by the president and not by the prime minister because the appointing authority of the NAB prosecutor general was the president.

“President Zardari has asked me to carry on my work and I will continue my job with full command,” Mr Qadir had told media.

The court order had said that Mr Qadir had remained prosecutor general of the NAB for three years and, thus, he could not get any extension.

But Mr Qadir was of the view that he had served in the NAB from 2003 to 2006 and the second appointment was a fresh one.