The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday directed the federal government to appoint chairman and prosecutor general of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) within a month’s time.
The court issued the directive in its decision on a petition
challenging the appointment of NAB Deputy Chairman Javed Zia Kazi as
NAB’s acting head.
Advocate Habib Wahabul Khari had challenged the appointment, terming it illegal and contrary to the law. In addition, the petition said that Qazi can neither officiate as chairman NAB nor can he use those powers.
Advocate Habib Wahabul Khari had challenged the appointment, terming it illegal and contrary to the law. In addition, the petition said that Qazi can neither officiate as chairman NAB nor can he use those powers.
The court in its verdict stated that if the government fails to
appoint chairman of NAB within a month’s time, then the deputy chairman
would automatically lose the powers of the chairman and the federal
government would be responsible for the situation.
A three-member bench headed by Justice Javed Iqbal had heard the
petition against the appointment of deputy chairman NAB and the
reserved judgment was announced by Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa at the
Lahore registry of the SC.
The verdict said NAB will be disbanded if a chairman and prosecutor general were not appointed within one month.
Earlier, some months back Supreme Court had termed the appointment
of Chairman NAB Justice (retd) Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as null and
void and made him illegible for any further appointment as NAB chairman
on the petition of opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali khan. SANA
