PTI vows to move court as govt notifies Zaman as NAB chief

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Following consensus between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and opposition leader Khurshid Shah, the government on Thursday notified the appointment of former interior secretary Chaudhry Qamar Zaman as chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The notification was issued by Ministry of Law. The post for NAB chairman was lying vacant since May 28 following an order by the Supreme Court terming the appointment of Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari as chief of anti-corruption watchdog illegal.

However, according to the NAB spokesman, the new chairman did not take charge on Thursday. He is likely to assume charge of his office today (Friday).

In protest to the government’s decision, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) reiterated its resolve to challenge the appointment in the Supreme Court of Pakistan and its legal team has already been directed and to prepare the case for immediate filing.

“There was a clear attempt that has been ongoing for some time now to destroy the whole accountability process and this is the compulsion that has led the PML-N and PPP into making the present unsuited appointment as both these parties have major cases against their leaders awaiting action in the NAB,” PTI Secretary-Information Dr Shireen Mazari said in a statement issuing a five-point charge sheet against the new NAB chief.

Dr Mazari also levelled new but serious allegations of corruption against Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, alleging that he had allegedly been involved in the infamous NICL scam under which many properties were bought and billions were made.

Terming the appointment of Zaman “highly unsuited to this position”, Mazari said the appointment was a clear result of a ‘muk muka’ (underhand deal) between the ruling PML-N and PPP, “done in haste and/or under unknown pressures” that PTI demands should be made public.

Mazari pointed out the following:

1. The manner in which this appointment was done was neither in keeping with the spirit of the NAB Ordinance nor completely legal. She said Zaman applied for retirement after his announcement was made and the process was hastily completed within 24 hours.

“This was done to defeat the letter and spirit of the law,” she added.

2. She alleged that there existed a contempt notice of the Supreme Court against Qamar Zaman. The notice is still pending.

3: She asserted that Zaman was one of the six directors of the NICL whose case was taken up by the SC. “Three properties were purchased – one in Lahore, one in Karachi and one in Dubai. Billions were made. All directors of NICL were issued arrest warrants except Qamar Zaman though he was fully part of the decisions. Two Directors are absconding and three are on bail.

4. Zaman was ADC to Ziaul Haq and Brig Tirmizi in his book “Profiles of Intelligence” wrote on pages 323 to 325 about him on how he got a quota to send workers abroad and made good money.

5. She added that Zaman had been extremely close to both the PPP and PML-N regimes.

For all these reason, Mazari said the PTI was convinced Qamar Zaman Chaudhry was completely unsuited to the post of NAB chairman as he “lacked the credibility and ability”.

She reiterated that PTI will go to the Supreme Court against this appointment and has already directed its lawyers to prepare the case for immediate filing.

5 COMMENTS

  1. If this is what NAB ultimately had to become – another government department – let's close it. Why spend millions of tax payers money on just saving corrupt politicians from accountability.

  2. Mian Sahib chooses a guy that will let him loot and let Zardari off the hook for his ill gotten billions. Main Sahib punish the thick Pakistani people for their stupidity in voting for you.

  3. NAB is now a notorious department. It has become protector of the powerful looting billions while unleashing its acccountability powers selectively on others who fall out of favour with the incumbent leaders. I fully support PTI who are challenging this decision. However, to fix this most significant national issue, it should be the supreme court taking a swift suo moto action.

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