SC summons NAB chief on March 27

The Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on March 27 to apprise the court about the induction of nine officers in the Bureau illegally. Resuming the hearing of a suo motu case regarding alleged illegalities, contraventions and violations in appointments within NAB, a three-member bench led by Justice Amir Hani Muslim examined a report of Secretary Establishment Division Syed Tahir Shahbaz which he submitted in pursuance of the apex court's earlier directive in the matter.
Citing the report, Justice Amir Hani Muslim remarked that secretary Establishment had used soft words in his report for the NAB officers, saying an illegality must be described as an illegality. The report has disclosed irregularities in 273 cases of appointments, promotions, absorptions and deputations of NAB officials from the rank of BPS-16 to BPS-22 from 2003 to 2015.
During the course of proceedings, the secretary apprised the bench that he has given his findings about examining the profiles of 1,700 NAB employees. Appreciating the secretary Establishment over the report, the bench asked him to provide copies of the report to NAB and other parties as well.
The court noted that according to the report, nine of the officers were taken by the NAB without proper requisite qualification. Justice Amir Hani Muslim observed if such officers would run the NAB affairs then the country would face destruction. He asked whether such officers should remain in their seats. He remarked those officers who do not have required qualification should go home.
While summoning the NAB chairman on Monday (March 27) to seek reply on the Establishment Division report in the matter, the bench inquired how the officers who were lacking qualification, were still promoted. A member of the bench Justice Qazi Faez Isa inquired about the experience of a retired major or colonel of armed forces that he has in investigation, to which Additional Prosecutor General NAB submitted a report, saying a committee has been formed to take departmental action.
Turning down the NAB report, Justice Amir Hani observed that people in the NAB committee are those who themselves are not illegible, saying the court would have to give directions to the chairman NAB. Justice Qazi Faiz Isa observed when NAB is not competent and is unable to file a report then how it could conduct an investigation. A person who is not a competent was asked to prepare a chart overnight to produce before the court. The hearing of matter was adjourned till March 27.