News
Thursday, August 08, 2013
PTI, PPP divergent over NAB chief’s appointmentPTI opposes any change in laws for PPP nominee Bhagwandas’s appointment
By Tanveer Ahmed
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) appears to be developing differences with the Pakistan People’s Party, which was evident when it objected to the alterations of laws for appointment of PPP nominee Justice (r) Bhagwandas as National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.
The PTI and PPP came closer during the presidential election when both parties raised concern over its rescheduling by the Supreme Court.
However, the PTI took part in the election contrary to the PPP boycott. At a time when the government is also reportedly agreeing on the name of Bhagwandas as NAB chief, PTI took the opposite position by opposing his appointment if the relevant laws are changed in this regard.
The nomination of Bhawgandas by the PPP received some legal objections, including that he served as Federal Public Service Commission chairman in the last tenure of PPP, and as per the law he cannot accept other government responsibility after serving in the FPSC. However, the government has learnt to have showed its readiness to amend the laws to appoint him as NAB chief, and opposition leader Syed Khursheed Shah is likely to meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after Eid over this issue.
The opposition has also handed over the draft of amendment to be brought in FPSC laws to relax the rules for his appointment as NAB chief. "We recognise that he is a gentleman with excellent credentials and commitment and has done Pakistan proud," Dr Shireen Mazari, PTI central information secretary said. However, she added, PTI's position is that making individual-specific alterations in the laws/constitution is not acceptable as it undermines norms, rules and procedures for the future by setting a precedence that others may exploit politically.
Dr Mazari said that the PTI had the highest regard and admiration for Justice (r) Bhagwandas. But to alter present norms in order to appoint him as NAB chairman would be doing a great injustice to him, since he has always upheld norms, rules and procedures. Apart from objections to alterations of rules in the FPSC laws, the PTI also voiced concern over nomination of Bhagwandas by the PPP without consulting it. The NAB chairman’s office fell vacant after Admiral (r) Fasih Bokhari was sent packing on the directives of Supreme Court on the grounds that “meaningful consultation” was not done with then opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk