SC grants ten-day time over appointment of new chairman NAB

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday granted ten days time to the government to appoint new chairman of National Accountability Bureau.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Justice Tariq Parvez and Justice Ghulam Rabbani issued directive on a plea moved by the Attorney General for Pakistan.

The bench in its order observed that they had given 30 days time to government to make appointment of new chairman after a decision in Bank of Punjab case considering the importance of the post but no progress was made.

It said for presenting progress reports on implementation of court's orders on National Reconciliation Ordinance before the larger bench which would hear NRO review petition of the federation on October 13, the appointment was necessary.

The government has to take serious steps for appointment of new chairman for submission of reports as it was one of the important institutions to curb corruption and corrupt practices, it added.

The bench noted that according to Attorney General, the consultative process over appointment lingered on due to unavoidable circumstances.

At the outset of proceeding, AG Molvi Anwarul Haq apprised that the process was underway with consultation of leaders of the house and the opposition.

The chief justice told him that it would be embarrassment for the larger bench as it would hear Federation's review plea over NRO on October 13 and there would be no progress reports about implementation of its earlier orders.