PM will consult opposition leader on NAB chief’s appointment: Farogh
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Federal Minister for Law Farogh Nasim on Wednesday said President Arif Alvi will appoint the new National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman after consultation between Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.
Addressing a press conference, flanked by Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry in Islamabad, he said that the matter will be referred to a parliamentary committee to be constituted by the NA speaker with equal representation from the treasury and the opposition benches if the consultation between the prime minister and the opposition leader did not yield results.
Nasim, while elaborating on the need for the amended ordinance, said that the business community and the bureaucracy were fed up with the NAB law and the general impression was that both were getting adversely affected by it.
Read more: President promulgates NAO allowing Javed Iqbal to stay at helm
"Business community and bureaucracy are the important pillars of the country, [therefore] it was decided to amend the NAB law and hand over the matter related to taxes to the relevant forum," he added.
Nasim said that the matters related to taxes would not be handled by Federal Board of Revenue (FBR).
He said that a provision has been inserted in the new ordinance deleting the word "non-extendable". The law minister said now the current and retired chairmen of NAB, with new names will be considered for their appointment as the next chief of the anti-corruption watchdog. He said it will enhance pool for the selection of NAB chairman.
He said that the current chairman will continue to perform his duties till appointment of a regular NAB chief and he will enjoy full powers of a regular chairman.
Also read: NAB chief to stay until new successor
Nasim said that the Supreme Judicial Council will be the forum to remove NAB chief in case of any misconduct.
The law minister said that role of NAB prosecutor general is being enhanced in the new ordinance to take independent opinion on a case to ensure fairness, adding that he will advise the NAB chairman to continue or withdraw an investigation on substantial grounds.
Nasim said the Supreme Court had directed to enhance the number of existing NAB courts to 90 for which a large pool for selection of judges was required.
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