Zahir Shah appointed as acting NAB chief

• NAB appoints Zahir Shah as its interim chief. 
• He will serve until next chairman is appointed.
• Shah has been working as deputy chairman of anti-graft body.

ISLAMABAD: Zahir Shah, the deputy chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), has been appointed as the acting chairman of the anti-graft body.

Zahir, according to a notification from the body released on Friday, will continue as chief of the anti-corruption agency until the next chairman is appointed.

“In pursuance of the proviso[n] to Section 6(b)(v) of amended NAO 1999, Mr Zahir Shah, shall act as Chairman, National Accountability Bureau, with effect from 22-02-2023 and till the appointment of new chairman, under the ordinance,” said the notification issued by Additional Director NAB Syed Izhar Shah.

Zahir, who has been acting as NAB deputy chairman, is already looking after the anti-corruption agency since Aftab Sultan tendered resignation from his office as the bureau's chairman. The newly-appointed acting chairman has been working with the body for more than a decade and had already held several positions in the organisation, including the coveted post of Director General NAB Rawalpindi.

In October 2021, Zahir was appointed deputy chairman of the NAB, a position in which he oversaw the organisation's administration.

Since the post of NAB chairman is a constitutional position, the prime minister makes the appointment for the office after consulting the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. 

However, in the absence of the chairman, the deputy chairman serves as the acting chairman, though he does not have the powers of a constitutionally appointed chairman. Only the chairman has the powers to approve the filing of any reference in the courts.

Refusing to 'toe the line'

The previous chairman, Sultan, resigned less than a year after his appointment as he had refused to "toe" the incumbent government's "line".

He was appointed as head of the anti-graft body on July 21, 2022, for three years by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government after Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal’s tenure ended last year.

Speaking to Geo News, Sultan said that he had resigned from the office a few days ago. “I was asked to do certain things which were not acceptable to me.”

"I told them that I cannot continue with the conditions. My resignation has been accepted and it comes to an end on a positive note," he said. "Prime minister expressed good wishes for me, I also have good wishes for him."

Sources, following the development, informed Geo News that Sultan had refused to make arrests of politicians on someone's orders.

“He was pressurised by the government and some other institutions in the last four months to register cases against the people of their choice and arrest them,” they further said.

Sultan, according to the sources, had also withdrawn the arrest powers from NAB director-generals to avoid misuse of authority by the officials.

Later, while speaking during a farewell ceremony at the anti-graft watchdog's headquarters, Sultan said he was extremely happy and satisfied that he was able to uphold his principles and not bow down to any pressure.

"Throughout my life and professional career, I tried to act according to law and never compromised on my principles," said Sultan. He added that the Constitution provides solutions to all the country's problems.

"Not following the Constitution has resulted in the political and economic mess we find ourselves in today. Continuity of political process and elections is essential," said the former NAB chief.

Sultan said he cannot initiate a false case against anyone nor can he drop an established reference against someone merely on the grounds that the accused is a relative of some big shot.

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