LAHORE, March 23: Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Syed Asif Hashmi has resigned from the post, requesting Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf to relieve him with immediate effect.

“I submitted my resignation to the premier on March 17, requesting him to relieve me with immediate effect. But he (PM) has yet to accept my resignation,” Mr Hashmi told Dawn on Saturday.

He said he also met the premier on Saturday and requested him for accepting his resignation because of upcoming elections, but to no avail.

“As I have to contest the general election, I hope the PM will soon accept my resignation,” he added. He said he would formally announce quitting the post on Monday (tomorrow).

Earlier, an ETPB spokesman said Mr Hashmi had been awarded Sitara-i-Imtiaz by President Asif Ali Zardari for serving the minorities well.

PPP Lahore chapter has congratulated the ETPB chairman for receiving the national honour.

In a statement issued by PPP federal council’s member Dr Ziaullah Khan Bangash, the party members lauded Mr Hashmi’s services for minorities.