According to reports, the government has decided to extend the term of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chairman retired Justice Javed Iqbal, and a draught ordinance has been produced by the government’s legal experts.
The presidential order has been authorised by Prime Minister Imran Khan, according Pakistani sources, and is scheduled to be issued today.
The ordinance was developed in cooperation with federal ministers, and a meeting was convened to debate it.
Changes in the legislation have been proposed by Law Minister Dr Farogh Nasim, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan, and Adviser on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar.
According to sources privy to the matter, more than one amendment have been proposed.
The draught was written with the legal ramifications of extending the NAB chairman’s term, which is due to expire this month, in mind.
Section 6(b) of the NAB Ordinance 1999 states that a chairman’s term cannot be prolonged.
Meanwhile, Hussain Asghar, the NAB’s Deputy Chairman, has allegedly resigned.
Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem had previously denied media allegations and stated that his ministry has not produced an ordinance to prolong Justice (retd) Iqbal’s tenure as NAB chairman.
He had said that it was the prime ministerâs prerogative to pick a person for the post of the head of the anti-corruption watchdog and that he could only give his advice on the issue. Naseem had said the prime minister will consider more than one name for the post and “will pick whomever he deems fit for the slot.”
Moreover, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry had said that the government will not be consulting Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif over the appointment of NABâs next chairman.
He had termed consulting with Shahbaz over the matter akin to asking a suspect who their interrogating officer should be.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties have already announced that they will challenge the governmentâs move in the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties have already announced that they will challenge the governmentâs move in the Supreme Court.
