LAHORE: A grade 19 police officer presently heading the Joint Investigation Team (J1T) constituted to investigate May 9 cases against PTI leaders reportedly tendered his resignation from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) on Thursday.

Serving as DIG administration in the Lahore Capital City Police, Imran Kishwar had earlier headed the Lahore Organised Crime Unit (OCU).

A senior officer privy to the information said Mr Kishwar submitted his resignation soon after the Central Selection Board (CSB) held in Islamabad where he was not considered for promotion to BS-20.

He said the resignation is being attributed to the CSB which recommended the promotion of 32 BS-19 police officers.Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar also attended the board and some sources said that he had defended the case of Imran Kishwar for his promotion for rendering remarkable field services.

The sources claimed that the IGP had apprised the meeting that Mr Kishwar was among the most professional and competent police officers serving in the province.

He also discussed the key role of Mr Kishwar in investigating high profile May 9 cases.

IGP Dr Usman Anwar told Dawn he had just come to know about the resignation of Imran Kishwar. He said he would be able to comment on it when the resignation was submitted through proper channel.

`With the conscience weighed down by the stark realities of services, I hereby tender my resignation from the Police Service of Pakistan,` reads the resignation.

He mentioned the districts he had commanded as head including Kasur, Sheikhpura, Narowaland Muzaffargarh.

Mr Kishwar said he had also shouldered critical responsibilities as SSP and DIG investigation, DIG OCU, head of JIT of the May 9 cases and DIG admin, Lahore.

` I have upheld my oath with unyielding resolve, often at great personal cost which has left me grappling with many unawnswered questions creating the unsettling internal dissonance, , says the resignation.

He stated that he had found himself at the crossroads where further service was neither feasible nor desirable. `My passion for writing, now demands its due, and I shall surrender to it with the same conviction I once dedicated to this uniform,` reads the resignation.

`With a mind unchained and a heart unburdened, I close this chapter and let it be recorded that I served with honour but I shall not serve in silence,` Mr Kishar says in his resignation submitted to the IGP.

Asif Chaudhry