Justice Nasir Saeed Sheikh of the Lahore High Court on Monday referred a petition to Chief Justice challenging appointment of Justice Deedar Hussain Shah (Retd) as Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after the petitioner expressed his distrust on him.
Earlier, when Justice Sheikh started hearing the petition, Barrister Javed Iqbal Jeffery (petitioner) said that he had some constitutional, religious and personal reservations on the learned judge and requested to send the petition to chief justice for its fixation before any other judge. The petitioner did not explain his reservations however, the judge referred the petition to the chief justice.
The petitioner alleged that the federal government while appointing new NAB chairman did not consult Chief Justice Pakistan and opposition as it was binding on the federal government under the Constitution. He pleaded that Justice Deedar's appointment had been made by violating 14 sections and articles of the Constitution of Pakistan as the federal government wanted to protect its interests by putting him on top slot in National Acceptability Bureau.
The petitioner said Deedar's appointment was against the principles of merit policy as he had chosen on political basis for the seat of chairman NAB by the government to protect its position in the NAB cases pending before the Supreme Court. He said important corruption cases of NAB were pending before the Supreme Court against some key figures in the federal government and presidency and the government had placed a man of its choice as chairman NAB to get rid of these cases.
The petitioner alleged that Justice Deedar had strong affiliations with PPP and President Asif Ali Zardari and this link has played major role in the appointment. The petitioner therefore prayed the court that the appointment of Justice Deedar as new chairman NAB may be declared null and void as it has been made unlawfully and constitutionally.