Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Leading political parties of the country differed over appointment of Justice (r) Javed Iqbal as new head of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

While Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) raised questions over the qualification of new NAB chief, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) termed the decision of appointing former Supreme Court judge to the coveted post as ‘correct’ while dispelling the impression that his appointment was the result of a ‘deal’. Though Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also backed Iqbal’s appointment, it proposed that the slot must be filled through a judicial commission headed by the chief justice of Pakistan.

Senior PTI leaders on Monday held a meeting to discuss the appointment of Justice (r) Iqbal as NAB chairman where it raised questions over the former justice’s qualifications, saying that the ‘objective’ behind his appointment was ‘unclear’, according to a statement by the PTI media cell.

At the meeting, chaired by PTI chairman Imran Khan, the party leadership was briefed over the recent appointment by PTI’s technical committee. During the meeting, the leaders complained that neither were the party’s recommendations for the post taken into consideration nor was the party consulted over Iqbal’s appointment.

The PTI leadership said that the ‘performance’ of the new NAB chairman will determine whether his appointment was justified or not. “It is yet to be seen whether he follows his predecessor or chooses a new path for himself,” the statement said, alluding to accusations that outgoing NAB chief Qamar Zaman Chaudhry had shielded Nawaz Sharif’s family from prosecution on corruption cases.

“Corruption is the biggest plague of Pakistan and its elimination is inevitable. The new chairman must actively pursue the cases referred by the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers verdict, especially the Hudaibiya Mills reference,” the statement said, adding that those who are proven to be involved in corruption must be sent behind bars.

Leader of Opposition in National Assembly and PPP leader Khursheed Shah said that the appointment of new NAB chairman was not the result of any ‘compromise’. He said the opposition had not complained to his appointment neither had anyone else objected to it. He said the new NAB chairman will not be dictated by anyone as he had a clean past as member of the superior judiciary.

Shah said that four meetings were held recently to decide the name of the new NAB chairman with the members of the opposition and the government. He said that being a former apex court judge, Iqbal possessed valuable judgment skills. He especially lauded his Abbottabad Commission report which he headed.

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Liaqat Baloch said that the appointment of Justice (r) Javed Iqbal as NAB chairman was a ‘correct’ decision to a great extent but added that several big challenges were before the new NAB chief.

Talking to different delegations at Mansoora on Monday, he, however, said that in order to make NAB free from political pressures and to strengthen the accountability system, the appointment of NAB chairman should be made through a judicial commission headed by the chief justice of Pakistan.

Following agreement between Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition Khursheed Shah, the government on Sunday had appointed Justice (r) Javed Iqbal as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice had announced that Justice (r) Iqbal, who served as a judge of the Supreme Court until 2011, will take charge on October 10, the date when his predecessor Qamar Zaman Chaudhry completes his tenure.

Justice (r) Iqbal was among the three names recommend by the opposition leader for the post. Two others recommended by him for the slot were Justice (r) Faqeer Khokhar and ECP former secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed.

Whereas, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had suggested the names of incumbent Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan, Justice (r) Rehmat Jaffery and Justice (r) Ejaz Chaudhry for the post.

The PTI had proposed the names of Justice (r) Falek Sher, KP former chief secretary Shehzad Arbab and former IB chief as well as former IGP Sindh Sohaib Suddle.

MQM had proposed the names of Justice Mahmood Rizvi, Justice (r) Muhammad Ghaus and former ECP secretary Kanwar Dilshad for the office.

The only nominee of Jamaat-e-Islami for the post was former ECP secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed Khan.

Published in Daily Times, October 10^th 2017.