SJC moot on May 16 to take up PTI plea for NAB chief's ouster

The PTI has complained that 'a person with such a poor, dubious and murky track record can never be trusted'

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) will hold a meeting on May 16 to discuss the maintainability of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) reference for removing the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, from his post.

The complaint was filed by PTI spokesperson Fawad Hussain Chaudhry through Advocate Chaudhry Faisal Hussain under Article 209 of the Constitution.

SJC secretary Arbab Muhammad Arif, who is also the Supreme Court’s registrar, issued a notice to Attorney-General and complainant, informing them that Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, being the chairman of the SJC, is convening a meeting of the council on May 16 following a complaint/reference to consider whether it is maintainable before the SJC in terms of Article 209 of the constitution read with section 6 (b) (i) of NAB Ordinance 2000.

The secretary asked the PTI spokesperson to appear on May 16, when the council will consider the aspect of jurisdiction.



The complaint submitted that in light of the apex court’s verdict in the Panama Papers case on April 20, the NAB chairman was found guilty of “glaring and stunning illegalities and violating the code of conduct”.

Although the judgment did not dwell on the conduct of the NAB chairman, the PTI raised questions about the accountability body’s role, wondering why it failed to check the assets of the prime minister’s family.

PTI’s complaint also stated: “The NAB chairman, by virtue of his office, can deter the fate of hundreds of inquiries, investigations and litigation. Hence, any person with such a poor, dubious and murky track record can never be trusted and it will not be out of place to expect that the findings of the Supreme Court are only the tip of the iceberg.”

The party’s spokesperson said that he had filed the reference with the sole objective of upholding the Constitution and ensuring the rule of law.



“The NAB chairman has failed to discharge his duties in accordance with law and has also been partial, dishonest and hand in glove with the culprits, and failed to put those on trial instead, further that he has been naïve and weak towards his mandatory duties, hence he is liable to be removed forthwith from his incumbent office …,” the petition reads.

“The respondent’s integrity, impartiality and honesty have been determined as having been compromised. In the circumstances, it would be absolutely fair to restrain the respondent from performing his duties as NAB chairman to save the nation from the respondent who has sold his soul to the powerful elite and instead of performing his duty he is hell-bent on aiding them.”