Former SC judge Bakar to be considered for NAB top post

islamabad:

The federal government is considering the name of former Supreme Court judge (retd) Maqbool Bakar for the post of chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

A senior government official told The Express Tribune on Saturday that Bakar’s name was being considered along with another retired judge, Dost Muhammad Khan.
Judge Bakar, who retired on April 4, is considered an independent judge.

Although Bakar’s nomination has received unanimous support from senior lawyers, senior lawyers are concerned that powerful circles and sections within the judiciary may resist Bakar’s appointment.

The former ruling party PTI is also expected to oppose Bakar’s appointment to the post of head of the anti-graft organization.

However, a lawyer affiliated with PTI said Justice Bakar’s reputation is “very high and he is ideally suited for the post”.

Previously, Justice Bakar was one of the judges who gave a verdict in favor of Justice Qazi Faez Isa in his case regarding illegal assets.

read Government to change NAB rules to make it easier for bureaucrats

Judge Bakar was also responsible for granting bail to PML-N leader Saad Rafiq. The case against PML-N leaders has raised serious questions about the conduct of anti-graft groups.

“Responsibility laws have been successfully used to shift political loyalties,” Justice Bakar said in his judgment while granting bail to PML-N leaders.

Sources said Justice Bakar’s name was agreed upon in a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari. All parties in the coalition government have also expressed the view that he is the best person for the post.

After former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted and a coalition government was formed, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made it clear to senior officials that a revamp of the NAB was being considered.

Senior serving and retired bureaucrats had earlier suggested amendments to the NAB bill to Prime Minister Shehbaz aimed at avoiding alleged intimidation and humiliation by anti-graft groups.

The bureaucracy has expressed dissatisfaction with past governments over what they term NAB’s “harassment” and “intimidation” attitude due to civil servants’ reluctance to sign off on official files.

Opposition leader Raja Riaz said he had no objection to Bakar’s appointment as NAB chairman.
“They are puppets,” PTI leader and former federal information minister Fawad Chaudhry told the media outside the Islamabad High Court. [Raja Riaz] He was appointed as a dummy opposition leader. ”

He added that the nomination of NAB chairman is being finalized.
“Judge Maqbool Baqir is a reasonable person. I hope he stays out of this process,” he added.

(Based on opinions from the agency)