ISLAMABAD: Federal government and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) have expedited the consultation process for the appointment of NAB’s new prosecutor general (PG), Express Tribune reported. As per reports, both parties are vying to get their person of choice appointed to the key post.
The post has been vacant following the completion of former prosecutor general Waqas Qadeer Dar term last week. As per law, the appointment of PG is made through mutual consultation between the federal government and NAB chairman.
The government has put forward names of Lahore-based lawyer Waqar Mir and Muddasir Khalid Abbasi for the post while the NAB chief’s preferred person is former Lahore High Court judge Najum-uz-Zaman.
It is learnt that names of Shah Khawar, Mirza Ansar Nawaz, Syed Asghar Haider, Waqar Rana and Punjab’s incumbent prosecutor general are also under consideration.
As per reports, prior to the appointment of NAB’s new Chief Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, the government contacted many lawyers but some of them had refused to assume the responsibility.
As per a government official, the appointment of new PG will be confirmed soon adding that there is no disagreement between the two parties over the matter.
“NAB Chairman Javed Iqbal met Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali on Saturday to discuss the issue and it is expected that a name will be finalised soon after the arrival of Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi from Saudia Arabia,” he claimed.
A senior official in NAB is reported to have said that an early appointment of PG is crucial since all appeals must be approved by him. “If the appointment is delayed then appeals against accountability court orders cannot be filed,” he informed.
“The appointment is also significant as an accountability court is hearing references against Sharif family members in line with the Supreme Court’s verdict on Panamagate case,” he added.
