President Mamnoon Hussain, on advice of Premier Sharif signed the summary for the appointment of NAB chairman on Wednesday. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: The Law Ministry issued the notification for the formal appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as the new Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Thursday.
The post for NAB Chairman was lying vacant since May 28 this year when the Supreme Court had termed the appointment of Admiral (retired) Fasih Bukhari as illegal.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, after consultation with Khursheed Shah, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, had earlier in October nominated Interior Secretary Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as new NAB chief.
“Yes, notification for the appointment of new NAB Chief [Qamar Zaman] has been issued today (Thursday),” confirmed Law Secretary Justice (retd) Raza Khan.
President Mamnoon Hussain, on advice of Premier Sharif had signed the summary for the appointment of NAB chairman on Wednesday, before departing for Saudi Arabia.
Under the NAB Ordinance, the Chairman cannot be removed from his office midway since he enjoys a tenure post of four years, from which he cannot be removed except under Article 209 through the Supreme Judicial Council.
PTI challenges appointment of new NAB chief
Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided to challenge appointment of the new NAB Chief, giving several reasons for going to the court against Qamar Zaman.
An official statement issued on behalf of PTI by Dr Shireen Mazari stated that the appointment served to undermine the letter and spirit of the law as Qamar Zaman had applied for retirement after his announcement was made and the process was hastily completed within 24 hours.
"PTI will go to the Supreme Court against this appointment and has already directed its lawyers to prepare the case for immediate filing."
The statement further revealed that there existed a contempt notice of the Supreme Court against Qamar Zaman (copy with PTI) which states:
"In order to meet the ends of justice, we find it necessary to issue notices under Section 17 (1) of the Contempt of Court (Ordinance V ) of 2003, to Qamar Zaman Ch, Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Abdul Rauf Ch. Secretary, Establishment Division, and Khushnood Lashari, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, for willful defiance of the orders of this Court passed on 24.1.2011. This notice is still pending."
COMMENTS (13)
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@Shahzad: Please do not feel so disgusted. Be hopeful for a better Pakistan. Salection had been made after consultation of both sided leaders of House and approved by President. If PTI still feel any objection courts are there to sort it out. InshAllah Allah will bless Pakistan with prosperity and Peace. Be hopeful and stay blessed
Gen Mushraf made the law (NAO) and set the appointed procedure for NAB chief. No democratic govt changed the procedure rather played with it tactfully.
@Shahzad: I fully agree with you. It has now come to light that as ADC to late Gen Zia ul Haq he was thrown out. NAB Appointee Qamar Zaman was forced out as ADC to Zia-ul-Haq because of corruption - see book by Brig Tirmizi 'Profiles of Intelligence' pg 325-7
Qamar Zaman was one of the 6 Directors of NICL who approved 3 corrupt land purchases - PTI has evidence of NICL board meeting #60 minutes too
SC took notice of 3 land purchases involving billions & sent arrest warrants to all 5 directors. Qamar Zaman was secretary interior so no warrant for him
2 Directors of NICL are absconding and 3 are on bail. Qamar Zaman director #6 was issued contempt notice by SC on 8 June 2011 which is still pending
Both parties PPP & PMLN needed protection as many many cases can b taken up so good bye accountability & welcome purdah poshi of corruption
NAB Ordinance of 1999 says Chairman can't be serving bureaucrat so after Qamar Zaman's name came on TV a hurried retirement applied for & overnight approval defeating spirit of law
Agencies like FIA and FBR should be made autonomous, in my view; NAB only exists as a parallel agency and is used for political victimization -- Pakistan doesn't need it. Why cannot NAB take action against the Zardari and the Sharifs, why must NAB go only after this powerless businessman or that powerless industrialist? Partial/selective accountability is worse than no accountability at all.
When two thieves get together to appoint the policeman who is expected to catch them.........the appointed person not only lacks credibility but the process becomes a farce.
So is this the change you promised Mr Sharif? After 30 years of avoiding justice and looting to build big homes in London, you weren`t going to appoint someone who will have the independence and desire to go after you and Zardari. Enjoy your ill gotten gains!
This is the height of hypocrisy and it goes on to show how dimwit of a political outfit PTI (obviously IK's personality traits reflects on his Pajama Party as well). If pending contempt notices are a sign of apocalypse, why in the cotton picking world is a suspicious character and a phony Doctorate Degree holder, Babar Awan is defending PTI's most valued leader Ayla Malik?!!! Isn't there a contempt notice pending against Babar Awan as well (Notice Milaya Khak na Hilaya)? Does Ms. Mazari knows this or she is just busy changing colors of her hair in the middle of her head?
Shame on PTI and its inane trolls.
If such contempt notices are to be taken with a pinch of salt, wonder what Ms. Mazari would have to say about a verdict of a Paternity Law Suit issued by California Superior Court. The Ilzami bandwagon is just out there blaring itself like a broken record which no one wants to hear. I still wonder why PTI never to Supreme Court against Faseeh Bukhair who was Zardari's man and according to PTI's godfather Haroon-ur-Rasheed, appointed at the behest of Malik Riaz.
The Deal has been struck. You scratch my back & I scratch yours. Sad day for the people of Pakistan. No Accountability now in sight. Will remain plaint & an Ineffective NAB Chairman.
PML-N fanboys. Now do you understand when we told you kids that PML-N and PPP are the same.
Ch. Qamar Zaman as NAB Chief and Faryal Talpur as head of the "Public Accounts" Committee, can it get anymore painful for Pakistanis? And then these people talk of democracy and Roshan Pakistan, I am disgusted.