Supreme Court takes notice of illegal appointments in NAB

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has taken a suo-motu notice of the appointment of illegal appointments in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the written verdict in the bail case of accused Muhammad Nadeem, who took money in the name of NAB officers. As per the court order, the chairman NAB can exercise the power of appointment only under the law.

“Rules have not been enacted under the NAB Ordinance from 1999 to date. Can the Chairman uphold Articles 240 and 242 of the NAB Constitution?” judge Justice Mushir Alam asked.

The court issued notice to the Attorney General for assistance while directing the Registrar’s Office to fix a separate notice for a hearing. Justice Mushir Alam wrote a four-page order in which the bail of accused Nadeem Ahmed, who identified himself as DG NAB Irfan Mangi, was granted. Mohammad Nadeem is accused of blackmailing senior government officials of NAB.

During the hearing of the bail application, the investigating officer told the court that accused Nadeem had called various officers including Irfan Mangi as important personalities.

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The court was told that the accused is a resident of Bahawalpur and earns money by raising a buffalo and selling its milk. In the last hearing of the case, the apex court had asked the chairman NAB how the head of the agency, who has been a judge of the apex court himself, could bypass the constitution and law and make recruitments. Justice Qazi Faiz Issa inquired under which law NAB chairman makes appointments.

Justice Faiz Issa had remarked that rules are made for running any institution and it is surprising that NAB has not made any rules and regulations since 1999.