ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to extend the tenure of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief Justice (r) Javed Iqbal.
According to details, Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the presidential ordinance and it is expected to be promulgated today. A meeting was chaired to discuss the ordinance which was drafted in consultation with federal ministers.
Law Minister Dr Farogh Nasim, Adviser to the PM on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan and Adviser on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar suggested changes in the law. Sources claimed that more than one amendment has been proposed. After approval from the premier, the summary of the draft will be forwarded to president Arif Alvi for further process.
Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry confirmed the government has finalised the draft for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman’s appointment, which will remove the “legal laguna” of consulting with the Opposition on picking a new chief or extending the incumbent’s tenure.
Fawad said the new ordinance would empower the accountability courts, as the government wants to strengthen the systems, and not an individual.
The information minister said it would have been better had the Opposition proposed a name, but unfortunately, they could not do so. He reiterated that the government would not hold talks with Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif, as he was a suspect in a NAB case.
Justice Javed Iqbal was appointed chairman NAB on October 8, 2017, following a consensus between the then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah.
It must be noted that, the incumbent Chairman NAB, Justice (R) Javed Iqbal, is completing his four-year term on October 8 with no sign of the initiation of a process of consultation between the prime minister and leader of the opposition to pick his successor.
Section 6 (b) of NAB Ordinance
Section 6(b) of the NAB Ordinance 1999 reads: “There shall be a Chairman NAB to be appointed by the president in consultation with the [Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly] for a [non-extendable] period of [four] years on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the President and shall not be removed except on the grounds of removal of a judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.”
