ISLAMABAD: During a hearing of petitions challenging the appointment of Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday, federation lawyer Abdul Hafeez Pirzada said that after the parliament's amendments in the laws, Chief Justice of Pakistan no longer had a role in the NAB chief's appointment, DawnNews reported.

A three judges' bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Javed Iqbal, heard the petitions against Deedar Shah's appointment as NAB chief.

During the hearing, Pirzada told the court that another case challenging Deedar Shah's appointment was ongoing in the Sindh High Court (SHC) and therefore under Article 148 of the Constitution the Supreme Court should not hear the petitions.

Barrister Akram Sheikh, counsel of petitioner and Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, told the court that two contradictory notices were issued with regards to the NAB chief's appointment and that after the withdrawal of Deedar Shah’s first appointment notice, the NAB chief's position was legally vacant.

Moreover, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa remarked that it appeared that even the law ministry was not aware as to under which article of the constitution the NAB chief was to be appointed.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned to March 10.