Bukhari appointed NAB chief

President Asif Ali Zardari has appointed Admiral Fasih Bukhari (retd) as Chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), setting aside the reservations raised by Pakistan Muslims League (N). The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs issued notification on Sunday.
The notification stated: "The President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been pleased to appoint Admiral Fasih Bukhari (retd) as Chairman, National Accountability Bureau, in terms of section 6 (b) of National Accountability Ordinance 1999, with immediate effect."
An unconfirmed report said that a prominent 'builder' had approached the President for the appointment of Fasih as Chairman of NAB.
The appointment has been made in compliance with the Supreme Court of Pakistan's order, which had refused to grant more time to the government for filling the vacant seat of Chairman of NAB. PML-N had claimed that the laid down procedure of consultation between the Leader of the House and the Leader of Opposition for this appointment had been ignored.
The decision of appointment of new NAB Chairman was rejected by PML (N). A meeting of leaders of PML-N has been called on Monday to discuss the future course of action on the new appointment.
The appointment of Adm Fasih Bokhari for the slot of Chairman of NAB, a controversial figure in the eyes of many, by Asif Ali Zardari, has triggered another row between the government and opposition, which had already taken harsh stance against the rulers.
Reacting to new NAB chairman's appointment, PML-N information secretary Mushahidullah Khan told media persons that a meeting of the party has been called on Monday and various options would be explored. He said it was a constitutional matter, and would be resolved in the light of the constitution.
He said that before reaching any conclusion, other political parties would also been consulted. However, sources in PML-N claimed that the party has been considering invoking certain constitutional clauses, which do not support such appointment.
The appointment of NAB Chairman has been entangled in controversy since the resignation of Naveed Ahsan as NAB Chairman in the light of the Supreme Court's verdict in the NRO case.
The government had sent the name of former Justice Mukhtar Junejo for consultation to Leader of Opposition Nisar Ali Khan, but he rejected the name with the plea that Justice Mukhtar Junejo "is too old" to take up such a hectic assignment, and some other nomination should be made. Next time, the Prime Minister sent the name of former Justice Deedar Hussain Shah, but Nisar again rejected the nomination because of his close allegiance with PPP because he had been twice elected as member of Sindh Assembly on PPP ticket. Nisar was of the opinion that Zardari was circumventing the proper consultation process with him and the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Earlier, President Zardari wrote back to Nisar, who had rejected Bukhari's nomination on technical grounds in a recent letter to the President.
The post has been vacant since March when the Supreme Court rejected the appointment of former Justice Deedar Hussain Shah.