ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah on Tuesday exchanged names for the appointment of the new chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

Talking to a group of reporters after his second meeting in as many days with the prime minister, Mr Shah disclosed that both the government and the opposition had proposed three names each for the important office of the NAB chairman which would fall vacant after the retirement of incumbent chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry on Oct 10.

According to Mr Shah, the government has proposed the names of retired Justice Rehmat Jafri, retired Justice Ijaz Chaudhry and Director General of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) Aftab Sultan, whereas the opposition has suggested the names of retired Justice Faqeer Mohammad Khokhar, retired Justice Javed Iqbal and former secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan Ishtiaq Ahmed for the office of NAB chief.

The appointment of the new NAB chairman is being made at a time when the bureau is hearing corruption references against members of the Sharif family in line with the Supreme Court’s July 28 verdict in the Panama Papers case.

Talking to reporters earlier in the day, Mr Shah had expressed the hope that they would finalise the name of the new NAB chief by Oct 8. He said that despite his repeated attempts, he had not received any name from the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

He said that he had consulted all the opposition parties, except the PTI and the MQM — the two parties presently busy in gathering support of opposition lawmakers to oust Mr Shah from the office of the opposition leader before the NAB chairman’s appointment.

Mr Shah, however, said the process of appointment of the NAB chairman could not be stopped and he would continue consultations with the prime minister as per the laws.

He said he would again meet Prime Minister Abbasi on Friday (Oct 6) to finalise the name of the NAB chairman.

The PPP leader also criticised the PTI and the MQM for their role during the passage of the controversial election bill in the Senate.

He called for holding an inquiry into the role of the two parties which were now making a hue and cry after their failure to block the law in the Senate.

Under the National Accountability Ordinance, the appointment of NAB chairman is made by the prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2017