Appointment of NAB chief, PG: Supreme Court rejects government plea for more time

The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday turned down government request seeking more time for appointment of chairman and prosecutor general National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The federal had filed an application in the apex court for extending the deadline set by SC in its judgement in Deedar Hussain Shah case to appoint NAB Chief.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the miscellaneous petition filed by the federation, praying for one-month time to appoint chairman NAB. Earlier, the SC had given a month to the government for the appointment of Chairman NAB and the Prosecutor General. The deadline given by the Supreme Court has already ended but the government is again seeking 30 more days.
The bench while rejecting the Federal government's plea said that SC verdict of June 21 in this regard is final. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa said the conduct of Federation was seemingly casual and non-serious in the case as neither it filed an appeal to suspend the order nor review petition against the June 21 judgement but another petition.
Additional Attorney General K. K. Agha said it would have been better if the case would have been heard in the chamber by a single member bench instead of the two-member bench. Earler, Agha on July 20 filed the petition in the court under Rule 2(14) of Order for extension of time in implementing the court's verdict.
K. K. Agha requested the Court to extend one-month time for appointment of Chairman NAB as the due date given by the court is expiring on July 22. Elaborating its stance, the government said the court had already declared the appointment of chairman NAB Deedar Hussain Shah as unconstitutional and illegal on a plea moved by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly. A review of the said judgement was sought in terms of constitutional remedy under Article 188 of the Constitution moved by Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, senior counsel of the apex court, on April 24 which is not heard so far.