Petition challenging new NAB chief's appointment lands in LHC

LAHORE: A petition challenging the appointment of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal as Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) was filed in the Lahore High Court on Tuesday.

Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafferi filed the constitutional petition, questioning the procedure adopted for the new NAB chief’s appointment.

The petitioner submitted that Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal was appointed without adopting the legal procedure laid down for the appointment of NAB chief. Neither any advertisement was put in any newspaper nor the required search committee was constituted, which is violation of the relevant laws, he argued.

Iqbal further contended that the government and opposition leader picked out Justice Iqbal for the slot without seeking suggestions from other opposition parties in this regard, which laid credence to the claim that he was appointed on the basis of likes and dislikes.

Thus, he requested the court to declare his appointment as illegal and unconstitutional.

Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal was appointed as chairman of the national anti-graft watchdog after the government and opposition agreed on his name following several rounds of deliberations.

The government on Sunday issued a notification, which read, “In exercise of the powers, the President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to appoint Justcie (retd) Javed Iqbal, a retired judge of the Supreme Court, as Chairman, NAB, after consultation with the Leader of the House (Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi) and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (Syed Khursheed Shah) for a non-extendable period of four years.