ISLAMABAD - Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly, Raja Riaz Ahmed claimed that National Accountability Bureau (NAB)’s new chairman would be appointed soon in his final round of talk with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“My final round of discussion will be held with the prime minister to reach a consensus on one name for the vacant slot of NAB chairman,” opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmed exclusively shared it with The Nation. The top slot of the country’s main accountability body has been headless for over two month, as the previous NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal got retired last year, and former deputy chairman of the bureau, Zahir Shah took over as NAB’s acting chairman. About finalising the candidate for the anti-graft watchdog body, opposition leader informed that he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have almost finalised one name to chair the accountability body.
“Both sides deliberated over some names for this position and now in the final round of discussion, we will announce the name soon,” said the opposition leader, without sharing the names deliberated in the series of meetings.
It would not be out of place to mention here that the ruling PML-N has been searching for a ‘suitable’ candidate for the important slot, but it has to reach consensus after consultation with its important allies, especially Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Sources said that the top contender for the important body, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir has yet not been finalised as the ruling party was reportedly not in favour of appointing retired judges. PPP, the important coalition partner, has tried to convince the ruling party to evolve consensus on it.
The names of Fawad Hassan Fawad and former FIA DG Bashir Memon were also under discussion but objections were raised on both these names. However, other names could also be brought under consideration for the post.
Sources said that a retired judge of the apex court was being considered along with another main retired jurist Dost Muhammad Khan who served in the top court.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a disgruntled coalition partner of the government, has also recently proposed two candidates to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the position of NAB chairman. BAP parliamentary leader, Khalid Magsi nominated former Balochistan High Court (BHC) Judge Ahmed Khan Lashari and former Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Ghulam Azam Qambrani in a letter to the premier.
“My final round of discussion will be held with the prime minister to reach a consensus on one name for the vacant slot of NAB chairman,” opposition leader Raja Riaz Ahmed exclusively shared it with The Nation. The top slot of the country’s main accountability body has been headless for over two month, as the previous NAB chairman Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal got retired last year, and former deputy chairman of the bureau, Zahir Shah took over as NAB’s acting chairman. About finalising the candidate for the anti-graft watchdog body, opposition leader informed that he and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have almost finalised one name to chair the accountability body.
“Both sides deliberated over some names for this position and now in the final round of discussion, we will announce the name soon,” said the opposition leader, without sharing the names deliberated in the series of meetings.
It would not be out of place to mention here that the ruling PML-N has been searching for a ‘suitable’ candidate for the important slot, but it has to reach consensus after consultation with its important allies, especially Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).
Sources said that the top contender for the important body, Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqir has yet not been finalised as the ruling party was reportedly not in favour of appointing retired judges. PPP, the important coalition partner, has tried to convince the ruling party to evolve consensus on it.
The names of Fawad Hassan Fawad and former FIA DG Bashir Memon were also under discussion but objections were raised on both these names. However, other names could also be brought under consideration for the post.
Sources said that a retired judge of the apex court was being considered along with another main retired jurist Dost Muhammad Khan who served in the top court.
Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a disgruntled coalition partner of the government, has also recently proposed two candidates to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the position of NAB chairman. BAP parliamentary leader, Khalid Magsi nominated former Balochistan High Court (BHC) Judge Ahmed Khan Lashari and former Islamabad High Court (IHC) Judge Ghulam Azam Qambrani in a letter to the premier.
