ISLAMABAD – Responding to a letter by President Asif Ali Zardari seeking consultation over the appointment of Justice (r) Deedar Hussain Shah as the NAB chairman, Opposition Leader Nisar Ali Khan on Monday proposed the formation of a panel of suitable candidates for the post for consolation purposes and to facilitate the development of a consensus amongst the consultants.
Nisar, however, avoided categorically rejecting the president’s proposal of Justice (r) Shah’s appointment as the NAB chairman, saying he would give his opinion on his name after receiving the detailed Supreme Court order on the nullification of Deedar’s earlier appointment’s. Responding to Zardari’s letter, Chaudhry Nisar’s secretary sent a letter to the president in which Nisar partially rejected Deedar’s nomination.
“The leader of the opposition had already conveyed his opinion regarding the non-suitability of Justice (r) Deedar Hussain Shah for the post of chairman, NAB, to the prime minister vide his letter dated 24th September, 2010 (Annex-A) in the light of the law and the letter and spirit of the Charter of democracy.
In the said letter, he had also reiterated the suggestion contained in his earlier letter dated 23rd September, 2010 (Annex. B) that a panel of suitable candidates for chairman should be drawn up for consolation purposes to facilitate development of a consensus amongst the consultees,” the letter said. It adds: “Justice (r) Shah’s subsequent appointment as Chairman, NAB was challenged by the leader of the opposition in the august Supreme Court of Pakistan, which, vide its short order dated 10th March, 2011 has declared his appointment illegal and ultra-vires and directed him to relinquish the charge with immediate effect.
