NAB chief: Opposition seeks consensus over nominations

Khursheed Shah says names will be forwarded to PM on his return.

ISLAMABAD:

Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah on Thursday said the opposition will forward the names for the chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to the government once Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returns from China.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader, Shah said that his parliamentary party has approached opposition parties to propose a unanimous choice for the chief of the country’s top anti-corruption body.

“We contacted all the opposition parties including Awami National Party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and Muttahida Qaumi Movement for evolving a consensus on the appointment of chairman NAB. However, only ANP has so far supported PPP on this matter while others have yet to respond,” he said.

“It seems that we need some more time to sit together and deliberate over the matter in detail that is why we have decided to propose names for NAB chairman to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his return from China.”

According to the procedure, the leader of the opposition is empowered to raise valid objections over the nominations, and suggest new candidates.

Consensus on NAB chief

Minister for Information Pervez Rasheed while talking to The Express Tribune said that the appointment will be made with consensus. “Without consensus, such an important slot cannot be filled and we are determined to take the leader of the opposition into confidence in this regard,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2013.