PTI files reference in SJC for NAB chief’s removal

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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Monday filed a reference before the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) for the ouster of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, a private TV channel reported.

Quoting a PTI spokesperson, the channel reported that the reference was filed through Advocate Chaudhry Faisal Hussain. In the reference, the opposition party said that in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement in the Panama Papers case, the integrity of the NAB chairman had been compromised and so he was no longer eligible to continue holding his office.

The majority of the judges in the Supreme Court’s judgement had observed that normally the investigation into the charges against the prime minister should have been conducted by the accountability bureau, but its chairman appeared to be partial and unwilling to perform his part, so they had to look elsewhere.

Therefore, the apex court had formed a joint investigation team (JIT) headed by a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) additional director general or an officer of a higher rank. The official will be required to have firsthand experience of investigating white-collar crimes and related matters.

The FIA officer will be joined by a representative of NAB, a nominee of the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan familiar with money laundering and white-collar crimes, a nominee of the State Bank of Pakistan, a seasoned intelligence officer nominated by its director general, and a Military Intelligence officer nominated by its director general.