Khurshid Shah to become party in petition against appointment of NAB chairman

ISLAMABAD- Supreme Court (SC) has allowed the opposition leader of the National Assembly (NA), Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, to become a party in a petition filed by Imran Khan against the appointment of chairman NAB and issued notices to Attorney General, Imran Khan and others.

A 3-member bench of SC presided over by the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Tassaduq Hussain Jillani took up the case for hearing Thursday.

Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan appeared on behalf of Syed Khurshid Shah in the court. " Consultation with the leader of the opposition has been made mandatory in this regard," he argued.

He said that much is unclear about the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as the chairman NAB and allegations of compromise are being leveled. “We want transparency in this matter,” he contended.

“ Imran Khan has tried to malign us . We have not made any compromise with government on this account. If Imran Khan had any complaint then he should have filed a petition against the government but he has leveled allegations against the opposition leader which is not appropriate,” said Aitzaz Ahsan.

The court while allowing Syed Khurshid Shah to become a party to the case, admitted his petition for a regular hearing besides issuing notices to Imran Khan, Chairman NAB and others concerned.
Imran Khan has challenged the appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as chairman NAB who may be disqualified as a result. The court adjourned the hearing of Imran Khan’s petition till March, 27 due to the absence of the Attorney General.