Secretary Information, Anwar Mahmood, confirmed this to Business Recorder on telephone that Tariq Ali Bokhari had resigned after some media reports that extension in his service contract was linked with the presidential reference against the Chief Justice, but the Prime Minister rejected his resignation and directed him to continue with his job.
The Secretary Information said the news regarding linkage between Bokhari's extension in service and the presidential reference was baseless and an official of federal secretary level cannot be asked to resign on such incorrect news.
Earlier, the prime witness of the government in the presidential reference against the Chief Justice, secretary Establishment Tariq Ali Bokhari had resigned. However, he met the Prime Minister at the Prime Minister House on Friday evening.
Bokhari was re-employed on two-year contract after his retirement in March 2005, and his contract expired on March 4, 2007, five days before filing of the reference in the Supreme Judicial Council. According to reports, Bokhari was given extension for another year without mandatory consultation with the Federal Public Service Commission.
Bokhari will appear before the Supreme Judicial Council as a witness to confirm the reference charge that CJ misused his authority for unmerited induction of his son Dr Arsalan in the FIA. When Business Recorder contacted Bokhari on his residential telephone, he said, "I have resigned and do not know it's accepted by the Prime Minister or not".