National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Aftab Sultan has stepped down citing political pressure. There were reports that he was not falling in line with the government’s policies.

The prime minister accepted Sultan’s resignation on Tuesday, but Sultan told the media that it was submitted two days earlier.

Although initial reports suggested that Sultan cited personal reasons for the resignation, he later told reporters that he was not willing to accept pressure over cases.

Aaj News quoted him saying that he was not ready to file references on the whims of some people or end cases to please them.

Sultan did not make it clear who were the people he was referring to.

He said he did not want to see questions raised over the credibility of NAB.

Reports about his resignation began to circulate on February 15. He was said to be under immense pressure over key political cases.

He was reportedly unhappy with the NAB’s powers being limited as well.

A statement from the PM House confirmed that the resignation had been accepted and that PM Shehbaz Sharif had commended Sultan on his services.

The statement said Sultan resigned citing personal reasons.

Farewell address

A few hours after the news of his resignation being accepted was made public, Aftab Sultan made a farewell speech to NAB officers.

‘I cannot tolerate interference in NAB’s affairs from other institutions,“ he said.

He also said that he would sometimes be asked to act against people owning only one plot, while those who had billions would be free.

“I came with nothing and I leave with nothing,” he added.

He also told NAB officers to fulfill their duties freely and not tolerate interference from any one.

’NAB officers should only follow the law,“ Sultan said.

No major arrest under Sultan

Aftab Sultan was appointed NAB chairman on July 21, 2022 after Justice (r) Javed Iqbal left the charge. Iqbal’s term ended in October 2021 but an ordinance allowed him to continue in office until a new chairman was appointed.

NAB did not make any big arrests under Sultan.

In his long career, Sultan served in the civil service’s police group (PSP). His last job was as the head of the Intelligence Bureau (IB), from where he retired in 2018.

At the time of his appointment as NAB Chairman last year, Rana Sanaullah called him a man of impeccable integrity. He was appointed for a three-year term.

“We are hopeful that he will be able to steer the accountability drive without any partisanship,” Sanaullah said back then.

Why Sultan’s resignation is significant

Sultan’s comments about curtailing NAB powers are significant in the current political context. A case about changes made to the NAB law, filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan, is currently in the Supreme Court.

Opposition Pakistan Tehereek-e-Insaf (PTI) has billed Sultan’s resignation as its victory.

PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said his resignation was the “first step towards the dismantling of the fascist system.”

Fawad said Sultan had resigned to protest the ‘interference’ with his work.

PTI’s Farrukh Habib said Sultan should have elaborated on the pressure he faced.

Another PTI leader Mussarat Cheema, however, was not appreciative of Sultan.

She said under Sultan the PMD government got several of its cases disposed of. His days as NAB chairman proved costly for the nation, she added.

This story is being updated.