ISLAMABAD: Justice (r) Javed Iqbal, a former judge of the Supreme Court, on Wednesday assumed charge as the chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
The incumbent NAB chief’s role will be crucial as the anti-graft watchdog is engaged in corruption cases against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family members.
Justice Javed Iqbal’s appointment was made after the mutual consensus of Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Leader of Opposition in National Assembely Syed Khursheed Shah.
He has replaced Chaudhry Qamar-uz-Zaman whose term expired on October 10.
Justice (r) Javed Iqbal was among the three names recommended by the opposition leader for the post. Two others recommended for the slot were Justice (r) Faqeer Muhammad Khokhar and former secretary election commission Ishtiaq Ahmed.
Whereas, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi had suggested the names of incumbent Intelligence Bureau chief Aftab Sultan, Justice (r) Rehmat Jaffery, and Justice (r) Ejaz Chaudhry for the post.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had rejected the six names proposed by the prime minister and the opposition leader. However, vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that they do not have object to Justice (r) Javed Iqbal but rather his performance will be judged.
Justice Javed Iqbal retired in 2011 as senior judge of the Supreme Court. Previously he remained Chief Justice of the Balochistan High Court for a brief tenure lasting only one month.
During his career he heard several high profile cases, including the case of suspension of Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. He was also appointed to lead the Abbottabad Commission over the United States strike which killed Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in 2011.
