Reassessing plans: NAB chairman goes on indefinite leave
Chaudhry was sent on leave by the president and the government as they did not want him to resign, says a NAB official
“The chairman has gone on leave as he needs time to decide on the line of action to be taken in the investigations,” says a NAB official. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The head of the country’s chief anti-graft body went on leave for an indefinite period after the Supreme Court ordered action against him and others for impeding investigations and unlawfully transferring the chief investigation officer of the NICL scam case.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry proceeded to go on leave for an indefinite period following the decision by the Supreme Court in the National Insurance Company Limited case. “The chairman has gone on leave as he needs time to decide on the line of action to be taken in the investigations,” said a NAB official.
Chaudhry, among others, have been suspected of aiding an “illegal transfer of FIA’s Additional Director General Zafar Qureshi, the chief investigation officer of the NICL case.” He was interior secretary at the time. But now, the court asked him, as NAB chairman, to investigate himself, as former interior secretary.
The NAB official claimed that Chaudhry was sent on leave by the president and the government as they did not want him to resign. NAB chairman is a powerful position and no high-level investigation can be initiated without his direct authorisation, he argued.
“However, the chairman can answer to investigators’ questions by staying in power and by remaining on leave,” he said, adding that Chaudhry could delegate his powers to the deputy chairman under sections 7a, 34a and terms and conditions of service of National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The deputy chief would then decide to constitute an investigation team to probe the charges against Chaudhry or not.
If the charges against him are substantiated by the investigations, Chaudhry could then be arrested and proceeded against according to the law, said the NAB official. However, he was not required to be arrested during the investigations, he added.
The decision of a contempt-of-court charge was still pending against Chaudhry who has already submitted an unconditional apology before the apex court. Like his predecessor, Admiral (retd) Fasih Bukhari, the NAB chairman would have to leave his office regardless of the findings of the investigations against him in case he is found guilty of contempt of court.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2013.
The head of the country’s chief anti-graft body went on leave for an indefinite period after the Supreme Court ordered action against him and others for impeding investigations and unlawfully transferring the chief investigation officer of the NICL scam case.
National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry proceeded to go on leave for an indefinite period following the decision by the Supreme Court in the National Insurance Company Limited case. “The chairman has gone on leave as he needs time to decide on the line of action to be taken in the investigations,” said a NAB official.
Chaudhry, among others, have been suspected of aiding an “illegal transfer of FIA’s Additional Director General Zafar Qureshi, the chief investigation officer of the NICL case.” He was interior secretary at the time. But now, the court asked him, as NAB chairman, to investigate himself, as former interior secretary.
The NAB official claimed that Chaudhry was sent on leave by the president and the government as they did not want him to resign. NAB chairman is a powerful position and no high-level investigation can be initiated without his direct authorisation, he argued.
“However, the chairman can answer to investigators’ questions by staying in power and by remaining on leave,” he said, adding that Chaudhry could delegate his powers to the deputy chairman under sections 7a, 34a and terms and conditions of service of National Accountability Ordinance 1999. The deputy chief would then decide to constitute an investigation team to probe the charges against Chaudhry or not.
If the charges against him are substantiated by the investigations, Chaudhry could then be arrested and proceeded against according to the law, said the NAB official. However, he was not required to be arrested during the investigations, he added.
The decision of a contempt-of-court charge was still pending against Chaudhry who has already submitted an unconditional apology before the apex court. Like his predecessor, Admiral (retd) Fasih Bukhari, the NAB chairman would have to leave his office regardless of the findings of the investigations against him in case he is found guilty of contempt of court.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2013.