ISLAMABAD: Punjab Inspector General (IG) Police Faisal Shahkar resigned from his post on Sunday, local media reported, after former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party asked the provincial administration to replace him in the wake of a gun attack on its top leader in Wazirabad.
Khan survived an apparent bid of his life on Thursday while leading an anti-government caravan of PTI workers and followers to Islamabad in an attempt to force the federal government to announce early elections in the country.
The first information report of the incident was not registered by the police in which the former premier wanted to nominate Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and ISI director-general for counter intelligence Major General Faisal Naseer.
"It is not possible for me to continue on my current assignments due to personal reasons," Samaa TV quoted the official's resignation letter. "Therefore, [it is] requested that my services may kindly be withdrawn with immediate effect from Punjab government and placed at the disposal of the federal government."
Khan's close aide Chaudhry Fawad Hussain told the media a day after the gun attack that senior PTI leaders had expressed disappointment over the performance of the IG police in the wake of the security lapse and demanded his "immediate replacement."
The province is ruled by the PTI and its close political allies.
Samaa TV said Shahkar had been appointed as the province's top cop by Chief Minister Pervez Elahi in July.
He was made adviser to the UN Police last week on the basis of his service record.
