NAB deputy chief’s appointment: SC reserves judgment on petition

Attorney general says bureau dysfunctional in the absence of chairman.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved judgment on a petition challenging the appointment of Javed Zia Qazi as the deputy chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

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.

A three-member bench headed by Jusitce Javed Iqbal heard the case in which Attorney General Maulvi Anwarul Haq represented the federation.

During the course of the proceedings, Justice Iqbal observed that the attorney general had requested the court to grant some time for the appointment of the NAB chairman but the request was not followed through.

Justice Asif Saeed Khosa asked Attorney General Haq about the status of the bureau in absence of its chairman.

Responding to the query, Haq said that the bureau remained dysfunctional in the absence of its chairman, adding that the deputy chairman is supposed to assist the chairman.

Advocate Waseem Sajjad, counsel for the deputy chairman contended that internal rifts among the officials of the bureau were facilitating people to engage in litigation.

After the completion of arguments, the bench reserved its judgment over the petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2011.