Appointment of NAB prosecutor general being delayed

ISLAMABAD: The government is delaying in the appointment of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Prosecutor General as summary has got stuck up in the Law Ministry since last two weeks, making it hard for the NAB to pursue the important mega corruption cases in the superior judiciary.

The NAB has sent a summery to appoint the Prosecutor General Accountability (PGA) to President of Pakistan through Ministry of Law and Justice Division but response was yet to be received even after passage of two weeks from the presidency.

According to sources, out of five names sent by the NAB including Justice (R) Saeed Ahmed Sheikh, Justice (R) Fasihul Mulk, Shah Khawar, Mudassar Abbasi and Syed Asghar Haider, the federal government raised reservations at the names of Justice (R) Saeed Ahmed Sheikh and Justice (R) Fasihul Mulk who have been former judges of high courts, for being over age.

The sources said the government had not appointed any one from the remaining three names-- Shah Khawar, Mudassar Abbasi and Syed Asghar Haider — as Prosecutor General Accountability.

The post of Prosecutor General fell vacant in the NAB after Waqas Qadeer Dar retired after completing his tenure in the NAB last month.

The important cases including Panama, Hudaibya etc are being heard in various courts without a senior prosecutor and the appointment of Prosecutor General who is considered chief prosecutor general of NAB is vital for pursuing important cases. “The NAB is waiting for the appointment of new Prosecutor General Accountability,” sources in the NAB said.

The sources told The News that undue delay was causing hurdles and problems for the NAB for pulling their legal matters professionally and legally. “Owing to which, NAB is not in a position to plead mega corruption cases more professionally in the courts,” the sources said.