PAC misusing authority, claims ex-NAB chief

PAC has recommended Iqbal’s removal as head of Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances

ISLAMBAD:

Former National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal has filed an application in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the Public Accounts Committee’s (PAC) recommendation to remove him from the chairmanship of Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances.

The Committee had decided to approach the premier for this purpose after receiving a complaint of sexual harassment from Tayyaba Gul.

Acting IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq will hear the plea on Tuesday (today).

Iqbal had filed the application through Advocate Shoaib Shaheen in the IHC.

The federation through parliamentary affairs secretary, interior secretary, National Assembly secretary and PAC secretary has been made party in the case.

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The plea while referring to the PAC’s July 7 meeting maintained that the removal of the petitioner as head of the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was recommended in view of “serious allegations” against him and that the premier was to be approached in this regard.

The application stated that it was beyond the jurisdiction of the PAC to bar Iqbal from holding the position of Commission’s head. PAC chairman is misusing his authority, the application said.

The plea requested the court to restrain PAC from taking action against the petitioner.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances was established in 2011 and Iqbal has been heading it since then.

The development followed Tayyaba Gul's recent appearance before the committee. In 2019, Gul was involved in a leaked video clip showing alleged clandestine and illicit relations between her and Iqbal.