Former SC justice Baqar being considered for NAB chairman post

ISLAMABAD:
The federal government is considering the name of former Supreme Court Justice Maqbool Baqar for the position of the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) chairman.

A senior government functionary told on Saturday that the retired apex court judge was being considered along with another retired Justice (retd) Dost Muhammad Khan.

Justice Baqar, who retired from his post on April 4, is considered to be an independent judge.

While Baqar’s nomination enjoys unanimous support from the superior bars, senior lawyers fear that powerful circles and a section within the judiciary may resist his appointment. It is also believed that the former ruling party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), will object to the appointment.

However, a lawyer who is part of PTI said Justice Baqar has a “very good reputation and is the best candidate for the post”.

Previously, Justice Baqar was amongst those judges who gave a judgment in favour of Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s case regarding undocumented assets.
Justice Baqar was also responsible for granting bail to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PMLN) leader Saad Rafiq. The case against the leader had raised serious questions about the anti-graft body’s conduct.

“Accountability laws have been successfully used to change political loyalties,” remarked Justice Baqar in his judgment while granting the leader bail.

As the coalition government came into power after ousting former premier Imran Khan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured senior bureaucrats that a revamp of NAB was on the cards.

Senior bureaucrats – both serving and retired – had earlier suggested to PM Shehbaz Sharif to reform the NAB legislation with a view to avoiding alleged intimidation and humiliation at the hands of the anti-graft body.

The bureaucracy has been airing grievances with the past governments in what they call ‘harassment’ and ‘threatening’ attitude of NAB due to which the civil servants are reluctant to sign official files.