Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Khurshid Shah on Thursday said he would soon give a name for the new National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman to the government.

In a statement, Khurshid Shah said that the current NAB chairman had become controversial. “Talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are underway in this regard,” he said.

“A meeting was also held with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi to discuss the issue of NAB chairman’s appointment. However, I have not complained to the PM on any matter,” he said. Shah said that the next NAB chief should not be connected with politics in any way. “No one will then be able to malign him,” he said.

The four-year term of incumbent NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry will end on October 9, 2017. Both the PM and the leader of opposition in the National Assembly have to pick a consensus candidate to fill the post.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had met Syed Khurshid Shah and initiated consultation over the appointment of the new NAB chairman.

Both Shah and PM Abbasi agreed to engage in consultation in accordance to the legal and constitutional provisions.

According to the NAB Ordinance, the chairman has to be appointed through meaningful consultation between the PM and the opposition leader.

Published in Daily Times, September 15^th 2017.