High-profile case: SC set to take up NAB chief appointment case today

CJ expressed concern over delay at last hearing.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah could not meet the deadline set by the Supreme Court to put forward their nominations for the appointment of a new National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman with the apex court set to resume the case hearing on Friday.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, hearing the case, had previously expressed its dismay over the delay in appointment for such an important position. A fairly large number of cases are currently awaiting the new NAB chairman’s approval.

In his visit to Shah’s residence, the premier and the opposition leader had converged over a proposal to present one nomination each for the final selection process, The Express Tribune was told. However, PM Nawaz is currently having cold feet over selecting his candidate and requested Shah to suggest two names instead, in reply to which the opposition leader expressed his own inability to come to a decision.

However, a source privy to the development has indicated that both leaders have come to a mutual understanding where without indulging into controversies and political point scoring they have agreed to resolve the issue and will make their minds up for final nominations within a few days.

During the last case hearing, the country’s top judge hinted at undue complications if the process is further delayed. Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Muneer A Malik, however, assured the court that the two leaders were deliberating in regular meetings over the appointment and said the holdup was tied down to the fact that some proposed names had been dropped on technical grounds. The information minister Pervez Rashid could not be approached for his comment.

The AGP added that urgency over the matter had been conveyed by him to the leaders. CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry however observed that sufficient time had already been allowed to the federal government for the appointment of the chairman.

The chief justice expressed concern over the delay in appointment, saying it was causing trouble for NAB staff that was facing problems such as non-release of salaries and expiry of contracts, and added that several high-profile cases were pending in courts for the same reason.

NAB Prosecutor General Karim Khan Agha told the bench that the deputy chairman did not have the same authority as the chairman, adding that though many inquiries were under way, references could not be filed without the approval of a NAB chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 13^th, 2013.