LHC to take up plea against NAB chief’s appointment

Forms three-judge bench to decide fate of petition also seeking reversal of Iqbal’s decision

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday constituted a larger bench to decide fate of a petition in which appointment of Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as well as all his actions as the bureau’s chief have been challenged.

The LHC Chief Justice Sardar Mohammad Shamim Khan constituted the bench, comprising Justice Qasim Khan, Justice Malik Shahzad and Justice Asjad Javed Gharal.

Prominent lawyer AK Dogar had filed the petition seeking a high court order to quash the appointment of NAB chairman as well as reversal of all the decisions taken by NAB during his tenure.

The petitioner contended that the chairman had been appointed by allegedly violating the Constitution. “The actions which he has taken as bureau head should also be considered violation of law… be declared null and void,” the petition said.

The petitioner also asked the court to reverse the sentence of three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who has been put in jail under NAB laws.

Justice Khan, after hearing arguments, had rejected the plea for the release of Nawaz on the grounds that the former PM's bail applications are already pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

He, however, had referred the matter of the NAB chairman's appointment to the LHC chief justice with a recommendation of constituting a larger bench to hear the case.