Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that two officers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) who opted for premature retirement would be entitled to pensionary benefits and perks.

The two officials are Muhammad Younas and Captain (r) Farrukh Naseem, serving in the bureau’s Lahore region on the posts of directors.

The top court directed the two officials to submit their applications addressing the bureau’s chairman for premature retirement.

Likewise, the top court also ordered two other NAB officials – falling in the category of inherent disqualification – to submit applications addressing the bureau’s chairman for repatriation to their parent departments.

These two officials are Quetta Additional Director SM Amir and Lahore Deputy Director Ansar Yaqoob.

The top court ruled that the parent department, accepting the request of repatriation, would complete the procedure within 15 days.

The top court ruled that these repatriated officials would be entitled to benefits of salaries and seniority level. “If their batch-mate are promoted, they will also be promoted,” the top court said.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice Amir Hani Muslim is hearing a suo motu case regarding illegalities, contraventions and violations in appointment of officials within NAB on a daily basis.

Earlier, a three-judge bench had directed the NAB chairman to ask 48 officials in general and nine inherent disqualified officials in particular whether they wanted to seek premature retirement.

During the course of the hearing, NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman contended that two out of nine officials

Col (r) Naeem and Squadron Leader Tariq Nadeem, the Karachi DG and Lahore director, respectively, had already been retired.

However, he added that the remaining three officials -NAB Lahore DG Syed Burhan Ali, Balochistan DG Tariq Mehmood Malik and acting Karachi DG Shabbir Ahmed – had refused to opt for premature retirement.

Justice Hani observed that induction in NAB through the Federal Public Service Commission would be far better.

“The decorum of the courtroom seemed to be desecrated when NAB Lahore DG Major Syed Burhan Ali started pleading his case with emotional expressions instead of citing provisions of law.”

He said that he served the bureau in true letter and spirit with honesty and due to these reasons he was now facing life threats, adding that after passage of years, the NAB now comprehended that the official was nothing.

“The NAB chairman is present but I am telling that NAB’s reports get changed again and again,” said Major Ali.

The three-judge bench expressed displeasure on such a statement, while Justice Hani snubbed the contender, stopping him from uttering such words, and observed that authority rested with Allah and this court was here to dispense.

Justice Qazi Faez Isa, another member of bench, told Burhan that he was supposed to be more disciplined, as he belonged to a disciplined institution. Justice Isa observed, “Your institution is more rigid and had never compromised on discipline.” He said an army officer stating things in such a manner was disappointing.

Burhan, however, sought an apology and contended that the requirement for the post was 16-year education but he was a simple BSc; however, the advertisement invited people having any other qualification if not 16 years. “You are talking about relaxation (in rules), not about the qualification,” Justice Isa addressed to Major Ali. On this, NAB Balochistan DG Tariq Mehmood argued that his case was of a similar nature. Both requested the bench not to pass orders against them.