Zahir Shah, vice chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), has been appointed acting chairman of the anti-corruption organisation.
According to a notice released on Friday, Zahir Shah will continue to serve as the head of the anti-corruption agency until a successor is named.
In accordance with the provision of Section 6(b)(v) of the amended National Accountability Ordinance 1999, Mr. Zahir Shah will serve as Chairman of the National Accountability Bureau beginning on February 22, 2023 and until a new chairman is appointed in accordance with the ordinance, according to a notification issued by Additional Director NAB Syed Izhar Shah.
The NAB has announced the appointment of Zahir Shah as acting NAB director.
The NAB has announced the appointment of Zahir Shah as acting NAB director.
Zahir, who has been functioning as NAB vice chairman since Aftab Sultan tendered his resignation as the bureau’s chairman, is already in charge of the anti-corruption body.
The recently appointed acting chairman has been with the organisation for over a decade and has held many roles, including the coveted position of Director General NAB Rawalpindi.
In October 2021, he was appointed vice chairman of the NAB, where he managed the administration of the organisation.
Although the job of NAB chairman is a constitutional one, the prime minister appoints the individual after consultation with the opposition leader in the National Assembly.
Yet, in the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman functions as acting chairman, albeit he lacks the authority of a constitutionally-appointed chairman. Only the chairman has the authority to approve the filing of any court reference.
Aftab Sultan quits
Aftab Sultan quit earlier this month after refusing to “toe the line” and stating that he cannot compromise his independence.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) administration named him as head of the anti-corruption agency on July 21, 2022, for a three-year term, after Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal’s term expired last year.
A few days earlier, Sultan told Geo News that he had resigned from his position. Some requests were made of me that were unacceptable to me.
“I informed them that I cannot accept the conditions. My resignation was accepted, and the situation concludes on a pleasant tone “he remarked. “Prime minister expressed good wishes for me, I also have good wishes for him.”
Following the occurrence, sources informed Geo News that Sultan had defied someone’s demands to arrest politicians.
“In the past four months, the government and other institutions exerted pressure on him to file charges and arrest the individuals of their choosing,” they added.
According to the reports, Sultan also revoked the arrest powers of NAB director-generals to prevent officials from abusing their position.
