The government decided in principle on Monday to go ahead with the appointment of Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari as the new chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani formally informed him about the government’s decision. The office of the NAB chairman has been lying vacant since March 10 this year after the Supreme Court had termed the appointment of former NAB chairman Justice (r) Deedar Hussain Shah null and void. A well-placed source told Pakistan Today that after the opposition by some Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders to the nomination of Admiral (r) Bokhari, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani had made up their minds on the appointment. The source said the government also hoped the clean image of Bokhari would press National Assembly Opposition Leader Nisar Ali Khan to support the decision.
Meanwhile, a meeting was held between Bokhari and Gilani here at Prime Minister’s House, which went on for around 50 minutes and took place in a very cordial and pleasant environment. “The prime minister also condoled with Faish Bokhari over the sad demise of his wife who had died some time back… the premier himself welcomed Bokhari and formally told him the government’s decision about his appointment,” said the source, adding that the opposition from the PML-N against Bokhari also came under discussion during the meeting.
‘MR CLEAN’: Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Dr Babar Awan accused the PML-N leadership of smearing Admiral (r) Bokhari, saying the PML-N leaders had objected to his nomination on the pretext of a corruption scam, while Bokhari was actually known as “Mr Clean”.
“Fasih Bokhari is a person who had resigned in protest to the decision of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the ‘out of turn promotion’ of General (Pervez) Musharraf as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs Of Staff Committee (CJCSC) as he (Bokhari) was at that time the most senior commanding officer of the armed forces. They (PML-N leaders) should tell the nation the truth. They will oppose anyone who is being nominated by the PPP government. They only want Saifur Rehman for this slot,” Awan said at a press conference here at the PPP Secretariat.
Flanked by former water and power minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Raja Riaz, Awan said Fasih Bokhari had been accused of involvement in corruption while he was an honest officer. “Nawaz Sharif should not wait for Saifur Rehman’s return as he is a fugitive and would never return. He should be happy with Fasih Bokhari now as NAB chief,” he added.
Asked whether the president was bound under the constitution to appoint any person who was vetted by the leader of the opposition, Awan said the word “consultation” was applicable in this context, which did meant discussion, not concurrence or dictation.
PML-Q DISSIDENTS CONSPIRING: Awan also accused the dissident group of PML-Quaid for “conspiring” against the democratic process by plotting to abolish the Senate. “After the two martial laws of General Ziaul Haq and General Musharraf who dissolved the Senate, this is a very serious attack on the country’s democratic process. And the conspirators are those who are the heart and minds of the Punjab government,” he said, adding that this conspiracy was actually conceived by the Punjab chief minister who had “adopted” the “turncoat group” of the PML-Q.
“If this assertion is false, the Punjab government should distance itself from the PML-Q dissidents and a reference under Article 6 of the constitution should be moved by the Punjab Assembly speaker against the person who floated this idea,” he said, adding that this idea was an attack against smaller provincial units and PPP Senator Sabir Baloch would submit a privilege motion in the Senate today (Tuesday) against this breach of privilege on behalf of smaller provinces. “Moreover, Raja Riaz also would submit a privilege motion along with 150 opposition members of the Punjab Assembly,” he said. Asked if the PML-N did not heed his demands, Awan said the PML-N might continue with its conspiracies but his party would opt for constitutional options, which were many.
