Ex-Justice Javed Iqbal appointed new NAB chairman

ISLAMABAD - The government has appointed Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal as chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for a "non-extendable" period of four years.

A notification has been issued in this regard on Sunday as stating, "The President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to appoint Mr Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, a retired Judge of the Supreme Court as Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) after consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly".

Earlier, Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah has said the name of Justice (r) Javed Iqbal has been finalised as the next National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman.

The leader of the opposition conveyed the decision during a press conference in Sukkur on Sunday.

Shah met Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Friday to discuss the matter of the chairman's selection.

The opposition leader said that being a former apex court judge, Iqbal possesses valuable judgment skills and especially lauded his report in the Abbottabad Commission - which he headed.

Justice (r) Iqbal was appointed as a Supreme Court justice in 2000 and retired in 2011. He headed the Abbottabad Inquiry Commission, formed to probe the controversial raid by US Special Forces which led to the killing of wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden.

The commission investigated and reported the circumstances surrounding the May 2011 raid at a compound in Abbottabad.

The commission interviewed over 300 witnesses and gave 200 recommendations in its 700-page report to the prime minister. The report was immediately classified, but a version was leaked by an international news network.

The incumbent NAB chairman, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, is retiring on October 10 after the completion of his four-year tenure.

The Pakistan People’s Party leader had proposed Justice (r) Faqir Mohammad Khokhar, Justice (r) Javed Iqbal and former secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan Ishtiaque Ahmed Khan for the post whereas the government had suggested Justice (r) Rehmat Jafry, Justice (r) Chaudhry Aijaz and Intelligence Bureau Director General Aftab Sultan.