‘Opposition leader sidelined in NAB chief’s appointment’
Supreme Court judge says his consent is a must.
ISLAMABAD:
It is essential to engage the leader of the opposition in a meaningful consultation for the appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed on Tuesday.
“This is not the first time the leader of the opposition has been sidelined in spite of the fact that his consent is mandatory for the appointment,” Justice Asif Khosa remarked during the course of hearing of the case.
Counsel for the federation, Abdul Hafiz Pirzada submitted before a four-member bench headed by Justice Javed Iqbal that the appointment of NAB chairman is purely an administrative issue. This court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case under article 184(3) of the constitution.
He argued that the opposition leader was consulted twice by the prime minister, his objection was taken into account and one of the proposed candidates withdrawn.
“The apprehensions of the opposition leader should be addressed during the consultation,” Justice Asif Khosa observed.
Pirzada submitted that the petition is based on a hypothesis because when the opposition leader was first consulted, his objection to Mukhtar Junejo was accepted, whereas in the case of Syed Deedar Hussain Shah, it was overruled.
“Why is the post of the NAB Prosecutor General vacant for the last five months and how is NAB carrying on with its work without him?” Justice Asif Khosa questioned the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) who could give no answer.
The court asked the AGP if the principal secretary of the prime minister had written any note on the summary for the appointment of chairman NAB sent to the President. The AGP replied in the negative.
On the previous hearing of the case, Akram Sheikh, counsel for opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, had submitted before the bench that the consultation process was not initiated to arrive at a consensus in the appointment of Chairman NAB.
The case was adjourned till Wednesday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.
It is essential to engage the leader of the opposition in a meaningful consultation for the appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Justice Asif Saeed Khosa observed on Tuesday.
“This is not the first time the leader of the opposition has been sidelined in spite of the fact that his consent is mandatory for the appointment,” Justice Asif Khosa remarked during the course of hearing of the case.
Counsel for the federation, Abdul Hafiz Pirzada submitted before a four-member bench headed by Justice Javed Iqbal that the appointment of NAB chairman is purely an administrative issue. This court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the case under article 184(3) of the constitution.
He argued that the opposition leader was consulted twice by the prime minister, his objection was taken into account and one of the proposed candidates withdrawn.
“The apprehensions of the opposition leader should be addressed during the consultation,” Justice Asif Khosa observed.
Pirzada submitted that the petition is based on a hypothesis because when the opposition leader was first consulted, his objection to Mukhtar Junejo was accepted, whereas in the case of Syed Deedar Hussain Shah, it was overruled.
“Why is the post of the NAB Prosecutor General vacant for the last five months and how is NAB carrying on with its work without him?” Justice Asif Khosa questioned the attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) who could give no answer.
The court asked the AGP if the principal secretary of the prime minister had written any note on the summary for the appointment of chairman NAB sent to the President. The AGP replied in the negative.
On the previous hearing of the case, Akram Sheikh, counsel for opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, had submitted before the bench that the consultation process was not initiated to arrive at a consensus in the appointment of Chairman NAB.
The case was adjourned till Wednesday (today).
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2011.