Qamar Zaman to head NAB, agree Nawaz, Khursheed

ISLAMABAD: After holding several meetings in a marathon consultation process, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Syed Khursheed Shah finally broke the deadlock and reached a consensus on making Interior Secretary Major (retd) Chaudhry Qamar Zaman the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman. Major (retd) Zaman, a DMG bureaucrat who is to retire on December 4 this year, is currently serving as interior secretary. He has headed many important departments in the past and also served as aide-de-camp (ADC) of former dictator Gen Muhammad Ziaul Haq. Before the general election, his name was recommended for the post of chief secretary Punjab but he refused to assume charge.Major (retd) Zaman’s name was not among the probables to head NAB in the last five meetings between the prime minister and the opposition leader. The name appeared at thelast minute as a surprise move. In their meeting last week, Nawaz and Khursheed failed to reach a consensus on the names of either Abdul Rauf Chaudhry or Shaukat Durrani — retired bureaucrats — and Justices (retd) Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry and Mian Muhammad Ajmal. Nawaz then telephoned Khursheed and proposed the name of Major (retd) Zaman on Tuesday. The latter sought time for consultation with his party leadership and then gave the nod to Nawaz. NAB has almost become dysfunctional after the Supreme Court dismissed its former chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari in May. Previously, the opposition leader nominated Justice (retd) Bhagwandas for the post. However, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in July formally informed Shah that Justice (retd) Bhagwandas did not fulfil the criteria. The prime minister proposed the names of Justice (retd) Rehmat Hussain Jaffrey and Khawaja Zaheer and Shah then proposed the names of Justices (retd) Mamoon Qazi and Sardar Raza Khan. Justice (retd) Mamoon Qazi declined the offer as did Justice (retd) Bhagwandas. According to the NAB Ordinance 1999, the NAB chairman has thepowers necessary for the watchdog to act with full strength. INP adds from Sukkur: Meanwhile, talking to the media, Syed Khursheed Shah announced agreement between the government and the opposition, adding that he had made five constructive meetings with the prime minister for the appointment of the NAB chairman. Khursheed Shah said that the name of Chaudhry Qamar Zaman for the slot was proposed by the government. He said that both the government and the opposition deliberated upon different names but due to some technical reasons other names could not be finalised.