PM Imran Khan will not consult Shahbaz Sharif over NAB chairman's appointment, ministers reiterate

• "If Shahbaz Sharif had a degree of shame he would resign as Opposition leader himself," says Fawad Chaudhry.
• Says "NAB will do real work, instead of being embroiled in controversies".
• Farogh Naseem says the ordinance for the NAB chairman's appointment will no longer contain the term "non-extendable", "so that a greater pool of candidates is available for selection".

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law Farogh Naseem and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday reiterated the government's stance that no consultation with take place with the Opposition leader so long as PML-N President Shahbaz Sharif occupies the post.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department, Chaudhry said: "It is highly inappropriate to consult a thief over the matter of [the NAB chairman's] appointment. We cannot appoint a warden after asking a thief [who it should be]."

"If Shahbaz Sharif had a degree of shame he would resign as Opposition leader himself," he added.

Chaudhry said the government had omitted clauses pertaining to private and banking conflicts and tax related issues from the Ordinance to be promulgated after the president’s nod.

He said the government would issue the Ordinance after which an act of Parliament would be introduced after consultation with Opposition to further improve the NAB law.

The suggestions from Opposition would also be incorporated in the amendments of the NAB law if any, he added.

Now the bureau would concentrate on its original task of eradication of corruption, Chaudhry said, adding that its performance was compromised with additional responsibilities after inclusion of business and other crimes.

He said the NAB would now concentrate on nabbing the "big fish".

"NAB will do real work, instead of being embroiled in controversies," he said.

The Federal Board of Revenue has been authorised to arrest tax evaders, the minister said, adding that the government is striving to strengthen state institutions including NAB.

Naseem, while addressing the briefing earlier, said that the impression that there is a difference in his stance and that of the information minister, is false.

"The president is the one who will appoint the NAB chairman," he explained, adding that this will be done after consultation with both, leaders of the House, and the Opposition.

Naseem said that the prime minister, therefore, will not be holding any consultations with the Opposition leader, and the president, instead, will be facilitating the discussion.

The law minister said that after consultation, a name may be agreed upon for the appointment of the NAB chairman. "If the consultations fail, a parliamentary committee will be formed, similar to how one was formed for the appointment of the vacant posts at the Election Commission of Pakistan," he said, adding that it will contain six members from the Opposition and six from the treasury benches.

Naseem said that the committee will be formed by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.

"Until the new chairman is appointed, the old one will continue," he added, saying that he will continue to have all the powers and authority that come with his post.

The law minister went on to state that the ordinance for the NAB chairman's appointment will no longer contain the term "non-extendable", "so that a greater pool of candidates is available for selection".

Naseem said no decision has been made yet over whether retired Justice Javed Iqbal will be "permanently appointed" but the government, including the cabinet and the prime minister, believe that a wider selection must be made available.

He said that the existing NAB chairman's performance "when you compare with the past chairmen, is before you". One can see how many recoveries NAB has made with him at the helm, he said.

The law minister said that therefore, the existing NAB chairman, as well as all others who held the post before him, will be considered for the latest tenure.

Naseem said that the Opposition did a great deal of politicking over the NAB chairman's appointment and unfortunately showed great stubborness, bringing forth 34 of their own amendments for the NAB law.

The law minister also spoke of district judges or retired judges now being appointed as judges of accountability courts. The appointments will be made in accordance with the recommendations of the relevant high court's chief justice.