Minister in Imran’s cabinet quits over probe

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s science and technology Azam Swati minister, being investigated over allegations he played a role in the transfer of the Islamabad police chief, has tendered his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

“To uphold my moral authority, I sent my resignation to the PM (and told him) that I cannot work under these conditions,” Swati said. “Now I will defend my case without any portfolio or authority.”

Swati, a member of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, is facing a case in the Supreme Court over charges that he influenced the transfer of the police chief because the official did not act on a complaint from him.

In October, five people were arrested for trespassing on the farmhouse of Swati.

The relatives and neighbours of the arrested people staged a protest at the National Press Club in Islamabad, where they argued that the slum dwellers were put behind bars after one of their animals entered the minister’s land.