NAB reply sought over Lahore DG’s appointment

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) once again issued notice to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on a petition filed against the appointment of its Director-General Lahore, Jamil Ahmed, and gave a March 17 deadline to the graft buster to file a reply.

IHC Justice Babar Sattar heard the petition filed by a citizen, Muhammad Iqbal. On the hearing, Barrister Zafarullah’s appeared in the court for the petitioner, while Additional Prosecutor General Jahanzeb Bharwana represented NAB.

Bharwana appeared informed the court that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had also ruled on a similar matter, adding that an intra-court appeal had also been filed in the LHC which was still pending. He said that the NAB chairman had tested Covid positive, therefore, the reply could not be filed.

The petitioner had contended that the NAB chairman appointed the NAB Lahore DG for one year on a contract basis, adding that the Supreme Court had given clear directions regarding the appointments in the graft buster.

According to the law, the petitioner said, it was necessary to advertise the post, while the candidate who passed the examination might be appointed.