Two fates hinge on NICL verdict

ISLAMABAD: Today's judgment of the apex court in the NICL case will seal the fate of two top Baboos of the Sharifs' regime - Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, chairman NAB, and Abdul Rauf Chaudhry, Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) and chairman of commission for appointments on top positions in government corporations and regulatory authorities.

Both Chaudhrys face contempt charges in the NICL case wherein it is alleged that they created hurdles in the smooth investigation of one of the biggest financial scams in Pakistan. The two, however, deny all charges against them.

Sources close to Abdul Rauf Chaudhry say that he was an honest officer and has a spotless career while a recent press release from Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has also denied all charges against him and maintained that he acted upon Supreme Court judgments.

In the Khawaja Asif case, the Supreme Court ruled that all top appointments in government corporations and regulatory bodies should be made through a commission which should be headed by chairman NAB, the Federal Ombudsman, FTO or head of any such body. The PML-N government first appointed Abdul Rauf Chaudhry as FTO and later appointed him as chairman of the commission for top appointments. Qamar was made chairman NAB after an agreement between the PM and the leader of the opposition. Since he was considered close to both so the appointment was criticised by all and sundry.

Top law ministry officials say that if the apex court passed any adverse remark against any of these two officials or any other officer or held them responsible for anything wrong, they will lose their respective positions. Officials say that the legal course defined in the law will have to be adopted for removing any officer but the federal government will be bound to initiate such a process if the apex court judgment contains any such adverse finding.