Federal government to file reply on NAB DG’s appointment

LAHORE – A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday adjourned the hearing on a petition challenging the appointment of Rana Zahid Mehmood as NAB Punjab director general.Earlier, Naseem Kahsmiri, deputy attorney general, sought time for filing a reply on behalf of the federal government. At this, the bench comprising Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and Justice Sheikh Ahmad Farooq deferred proceedings until April 28. Shah Faisal Qureshi, the petitioner, submitted that Zahid’s appointment was made on contract in violation of rules and regulations so the government’s step was illegal.
He said Zahid’s appointment was also in violation of the Supreme Court’s judgment and the constitution of Pakistan. He said Zahid was removed as judge from the LHC, following the judgment of the Supreme Court on a petition of Sindh High Court Bar Association. He said that Zahid, was a close relative of Rana Qaiser Nazir, an accused in Canal Motors case. He accused Zahid of exercising his influence in the matter for the removal of the investigating officer, Rana Waqas, who was holding investigation on merit.
He said the matter was reported to the NAB chairman and Punjab inspector general through various applications but to no avail. He prayed the court to declare Zahid’s appointment as unconstitutional and to direct officials to transfer the investigation of Canal Motors Scam to the previous investigation officer, Rana Waqas. The petitioner had also filed an application through his counsel, Muhammad Azhar Siddique, in already pending petition against the appointment of the DG. The court admitting the application fixed it for further hearing on April 11. The application said that the DG was committing illegalities during the case proceedings against his appointment.
NBP – IN CONTEMPT OF COURT: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued notice to National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) president for failing to comply with the LHC’s orders to give raise in benevolent funds payments to retired employees of the bank. Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed passed the orders on the contempt of court petition of Koqab Iqbal, a retired NBP employee, against NBP President Qamar Hussain, submitting he did not pay any heed to the LHC’s orders for giving a raise to retired employees.
Koqab said railways and others departments had increased benevolent funds by Rs 4000 but the NBP was reluctant. He said the federal government had been promising the raise since 2003.
He said the bank had closed its eyes to the ‘justified’ demands of the employees. He prayed the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against NBP president for not complying with the LHC’s orders and pass orders to the bank to give a more than Rs 4000 raise immediately. Justice Azmat Saeed issued notice to the respondents including NBP president for initiating further proceeding.