Dar calls opposition leader, asks for top NAB post nominees. PHOTO: FILE
The government has accelerated its efforts to appoint a National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief after the Supreme Court warned it of ‘consequences’, following Friday’s proceedings where the Attorney General Munir A Malik sought a one-week time-frame for the appointment.
The Supreme Court had earlier set September 13 as deadline for the government to appoint a NAB chief but the government and the opposition failed to comply with the order.
Sources said Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday telephoned Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah, who is currently in London, to discuss the issue and inform him about the court’s reservations. According to sources, Dar also asked him to provide two names for NAB chief’s slot as early as possible as per his commitment. Meanwhile, sources said that the opposition leader has assured Dar of resolving the issue upon his arrival on September 18.
“The finance minister has been tasked to establish contact with the opposition leader to resolve the issue immediately. Consultation with the opposition leader is mandatory for the appointment,” said Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid while talking to The Express Tribune.
He said the government had short-listed some names and were waiting for the opposition’s nominations.
“There is no delay on our part, we are just waiting for opposition leader’s opinion,” he added.The information minister has said that the PML-N government intends to fulfill the constitutional requirements after due consultation. Had it desired to appoint the NAB instantly, it would have done that within no time, he remarked.
When asked why the government and the opposition failed to evolve a consensus over a single name when Khursheed Shah was present in the country, Rashid said, “We had been busy arranging the All Parties Conference.”
The information minister was reluctant to share names which he said were finalised or shortlisted by the government.
“We will make names public once we have reached a consensus,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 15th, 2013.
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If the Government and the Opposition are serious about the appointment of Chairman NAB, I have a proposal for their consideration.. Mr. Mohammad Saeed Khan, a former Additional Director General FIA and Inspector General of Police KPK and Sind, is a low profile, neutral and competent professional who may be appointed Chairman NAB.
This is ample demonstration of PMLN's incompetence that they cannot find with the Opposition one decent man in Pakistan to head NAB. Could it be that there are no honest and decent people left in Pakistan???