ISLAMABAD: National Accountability Bureau(NAB) deputy chairman on Wednesday became acting chairman of the anti-graft watchdog as the extended tenure of chairman Justice(retd) Javed Iqbal ended on June 2. A private TV channel reported.
Zahir Shah will assume the additional charge till the appointment of the new head of the anti-graft watchdog.
The retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan was in office since October 8, 2017, and was appointed by then Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.
In October 2021, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government extended the tenure of the NAB chairman through the promulgation of a new presidential ordinance as section 6(b) of NAB Ordinance 1999 prohibits extension.
The coalition government had decided in principle against extending the tenure of Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal once it ends on June 2.
The government is also mulling over whom to appoint Justice Iqbal’s successor to head the national anti-graft watchdog.
Justice Javed Iqbal was appointed as NAB chairman in October 2017 for a four-year term, which ended last year. Imran Khan’s government, however, decided to allow him to continue in the position until a successor was found and issued an ordinance, which expires this month.
