Zardari moves to reappoint Shah

Islamabad: On the heels of a Supreme Court verdict invalidating the appointment of retired justice Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), President Asif Ali Zardari has proposed to reappoint him to the same post.

The president initiated the consultative process mandatory for such appointment by seeking the opinion of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani as Leader of the House and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly.

Under NAB Ordinance, 1999, the consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly is required by law. The Supreme Court verdict issued on Thursday, triggered an outcy in the ruling Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

On the call of the PPP provincial chapter, a strike was staged across Sindh and protest marched were held in a string of cities and towns to express resentment over the court decision.

Violence erupted on Thursday night in different parts of Karachi, leaving at least seven people killed in shooting incidents. A dozen vehicles were also torched by unknown assailants.

Farhatullah Babar, spokesperson of the president, announced the proposal for the reappointment of Shah as NAB chief on Friday night.

Man of integrity

In a letter to the opposition leader, the president said Shah "is a man of integrity with rich legal background."

He was appointed judge in the Sindh High Court (SHC) and remained SHC Chief Justice. He retired as judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

The president, taking note of the objections raised that he had "political affiliation with the ruling political party," said that Shah remained a member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly long before he was appointed judge of the Sindh High Court in 1994.

Shah was appointed SHC judge and subsequently elevated as Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan in Apri, 2000. He served the apex court until 2004, the president's letter said.

The letter also quoted the 1996 Supreme Court judgment in Al Jehad Trust case that settled the issue of political affiliation of a candidate for judge and concluded that political affiliation alone may not disqualify a candidate.

The opposition leader in the National Assembly "is requested to kindly consider the proposal of appointment of Mr Justice [retired] Syed Deedar Hussain Shah as Chairman NAB," the president's letter said.