Imran Khan challenges NAB chairman appointment in SC

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has filed a petition against the ‘questionable appointment’ of chairman NAB in the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday here, Geo News reported.

Sources said all evidence of close ties between the new chairman NAB and the top PML-N leadership during the past thirty years and his connections with PPP leadership have been made part of the PTI petition.

PTI leader and veteran Supreme Court advocate, Hamid Khan will be the leading counsel in this petition. The petition maintains that the appointment was unconstitutional and names the federation and NAB chairman as parties in the case.

Senior legal experts and top officials of the law ministry say there is strong evidence regarding the past conduct of the new chairman, which can be presented before the apex court.

Legal experts say that as per law, the president appoints chairman NAB in consultation with the prime minister and Leader of the Opposition but there is no interpretation as to what should be done if big cases are pending against both the PM and leader of opposition in the NAB.

Law ministry officials say that the apex court may explain this point in the present case as in previous two judgments the apex court had repeatedly referred to consultation with the Chief Justice of Pakistan in some awkward situations. Newly appointed chairman is also facing a contempt of court case.

According to law ministry officials, legally this fact could not be an impediment in such appointment but care should be done while making such big and sensitive appointments.