ISLAMABAD, March 2: The Secretary of the Election Commission, Ishtiak Ahmad Khan, resigned on Friday a few weeks before the retirement of Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Hamid Ali Mirza.

According to sources, Mr Khan took the decision because he felt he had been humiliated during recent hearings on the issue of electoral rolls in the Supreme Court.

He was also worried, the sources said, about proceedings in the apex court on the incident of slapping of election staff by a candidate during by-election for a seat in Tando Mohammad Khan.

The commission has already withheld the result of the election till the completion of inquiry against Waheeda Shah, who had polled the highest number of votes.

Mr Khan could not be contacted for his comments because he was reported to be ill.