Govt, NAB consult on new prosecutor general

Some officials claim there is a deadlock over the issue

ISLAMABAD: Federal government and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have intensified consultation for appointment of NAB’s new prosecutor general (PG), with reports that both the parties vie to get their trusted man appointed at the key position.

The post fell vacant after three-year tenure of former prosecutor general Waqas Qadeer Dar ended last week. Under the law, the federal government appoints new PG in consultation with NAB chairman.



A senior government official told The Express Tribune that there is a deadlock over the issue as both the PML-N leadership and NAB chief want to appoint a person of their choice.

The government has nominated Lahore-based lawyer Waqar Mir and Muddasir Khalid Abbasi for the post while the NAB chief has presented name of the former Lahore High Court judge Najum-uz-Zaman.

It is learnt that names of Shah Khawar, Mirza Ansar Nawaz, Syed Asghar Haider, Waqar Rana and Punjab’s incumbent prosecutor general have also been considered for the post.

Before appointment of NAB’s new chief Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the government had contacted several lawyers but some of them had declined the government’s offer to assume the responsibility.

Another government official told The Express Tribune that there was no deadlock over appointment of the new PG, adding that the appointment would be finalised soon.

“NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal met Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali on Saturday to discuss the issue and it is expected that a name will be finalised soon after the arrival of Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi from Saudia Arabia,” he added.



A senior official in NAB admitted that an early appointment of PG was very important because no appeal could be filed without his approval.  “If the appointment is delayed then appeals against accountability court orders cannot be filed,” he said.

He said in view of the high court’s order, additional PG cannot perform as acting PG. “The appointment is also significant as an accountability court is hearing references against Sharif family members in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict on Panamagate case,” he added.

Legal experts believe that the former PG Waqas Qadeer Dar did a great job as during his tenure, the conviction ratio at accountability courts was 59 per cent and success rate in high courts was 73 per cent.