ISLAMABAD
The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday allowed PPP leader Khurshid Shah to become party in petition against the appointment of NAB chairman and issued notices to the attorney general and Imran Khan.
A three-member bench of SC, presided over by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, took up the case for hearing.
Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared on behalf of Shah and took the plea that the NAB chairman’s office was sovereign. On one hand, requirements for the appointment have to be met and on the other hand consultation with leader of the opposition has also been made mandatory in this respect, he argued.
He said much was in the air regarding the appointment of Qamar Zaman as the NAB head and allegations of compromise were being levelled. “We want transparency in this matter be brought to open,” he contended. Therefore, we may please be allowed to become party in Imran Khan case,” he said.
He said, “Imran Khan has tried to malign us while we have not made any compromise with government on this count. If Imran Khan had any complaint then he should have filed petition against the government but he has levelled allegations against the opposition leader which is not appropriate in any way,” he added.
The court admitted Shah’s petition for regular hearing.
Imran Khan has challenged the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as the NAB head, saying that compromise and nexus between the government and opposition has led to the appointment.
The court adjourned the hearing until March 27 due to absence of the attorney general.