Opposition leader in National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday challenged appointment of former Justice Deedar Hussain Shah as chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in the Supreme Court. Advocate Akram Sheikh filed the petition in the apex court on behalf of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who is a senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and chairman Public Accounts Committee (PAC) - a key watchdog organ of parliament.
The petition states that the opposition was not consulted over NAB chairman's appointment, which is mandatory as per the NAB Ordinance. The petitioner pleaded the court that NAB chairman should be restrained from working till the disposal of the petition. The petitioner argued that the appointment of justice Shah was not made on the basis of merit rather to protect personal interests.
The government has recently appointed the former judge, as new chairman of the anti-graft body. Shah was elected as a legislator in 1988 and 1990 as a Pakistan People's Party (PPP) nominee, before he was made a judge of Sindh High Court. His allegiance with the PPP has placed a question mark over his appointment and the opposition was crying foul over the appointment. The Supreme Court had also raised question over his appointment, as the government did not consult the chief justice - which is mandatory as per the apex court's judgements.
Last week, the appointment was also challenged in the Lahore High Court (LHC) and the Sindh High Court (SHC) on the grounds that it was made in violation of NAB Ordinance and Supreme Court's judgements. Opposing President Zardari's decision to appoint Shah as NAB chairman, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had threatened that his party would hold a 'long march' if the decision was not withdrawn.