Key Pakistani counterterrorism official resigns


Officials say the head of a federal group meant to coordinate Pakistan's fight against terrorism has resigned amid a bureaucratic turf battle. Asif Syed, a senior official at the National Counterterrorism Authority, says its chief, Tariq Pervez, resigned Tuesday.

A second government official says Pervez resigned because he couldn't persuade his superiors to place the organization under the prime minister's office where it would have more power to force intelligence and security services to cooperate.
The official says the government decided to place the group under the Interior Ministry. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.