Flagship reference: NAB DG admits his appointment case pending before SC

ISLAMABAD: Legal counsel for the former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif, Khawaja Haris Wednesday concluded cross-examination of Director General NAB Operations Zahir Shah who appeared before the accountability court as a prosecution witness in Flagship corruption reference.

During cross-examination, Zahir Shah admitted before AC that he is also among the 23 officers about whose appointment a case is pending before Supreme Court of Pakistan.

He said that he was appointed in National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as an additional director in Grade 19 in May, 2004.

Later, the Supreme Court took a suo motu notice regarding the appointments made in 2004 and the case is still pending. Zahir Shah made these admissions upon queries raised by Khawaja Haris, while the NAB deputy prosecutor general frequently interrupted and raised objections over the admissibility of the questions.

Haris, before asking these questions, said he seeks apology in advance but he has to ask such questions as this is very important aspect of this case. Zahir Shah said the NAB has forwarded record of the appointments, including his own appointment, to the Supreme Court and the matter is yet to be decided.

Haris asked Zahir Shah did he know that three NAB officers including Subah Sadiq, Khursheed Anwar and Muhammad Shafique are facing NAB references. The NAB prosecutor raised objections that such questions could not be asked. Haris said about references against three NAB officers that there is an allegation against Zahir Sha that he leaked sensitive information and documents to one Colonel Khalid. Zahir Shah admitted that the NAB has an audio recording of his telephonic conversation with Colonel Khalid and that recording was also submitted in another accountability court of Islamabad.

During last hearing on Tuesday, the accountability court on the request of Haris had directed Zahir Shah to produce five mutual legal assistance (MLA) applications that the JIT had written to the United Kingdom Central Authority (UKCA) regarding Flagship reference. Haris during Wednesday’s hearing pointed out several discrepancies in the documents produced by the witness. Zahir Shah conceded that the UKCA did not provide the same documents that they sought through MLAs.

Haris also pointed out that the documents received through MLA were neither stamped, nor certified by any authorised officer.