ISLAMABAD, Oct 21 (APP):The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the Ministry of Law and other respondents, seeking their replies to a petition challenging the appointments of NAB Prosecutor General Sohail Nasir and Deputy Chairman Ehtesham Qadir.
Justice Umair Majid Malik issued the notices while hearing a petition filed by Dr G.M. Chaudhry, who appeared in person before the court.
During the hearing, the petitioner contended that Sohail Nasir described himself as a former judge, although he had served as an additional judge of the Lahore High Court. He argued that an additional judge could not describe himself as a former judge.
The judge asked whether the petitioner wanted an investigation into the appointments, remarking that the argument had complicated his own case. The petitioner requested that the NAB prosecutor present in the courtroom be served notice, while the court observed that other parties were also involved and had been issued notices.
The petitioner argued that the appointments had been made without advertisement and in violation of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the NAB Ordinance, 1999.
The court also issued notices to Deputy Chairman NAB Ehtesham Qadir and Prosecutor General NAB Sohail Nasir on separate applications seeking their suspension from work and the production of records relating to their appointments. The hearing was adjourned.
In his petition, Dr Chaudhry has sought a declaration that the appointments of the two officials were illegal, unconstitutional and mala fide, alleging violations of the NAB Ordinance, 1999, and a lack of lawful authority for the appointments.
The petitioner claimed that the appointment process lacked transparency, merit and good governance, alleging that the requirements of competitive selection and public advertisement had not been fulfilled.
He has requested the court to set aside both appointments and direct the recovery of salaries, allowances and other benefits received from the public exchequer, with the amount to be recovered in the manner applicable to arrears of land revenue.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
