ISLAMABAD: NAB chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry resumed work on Thursday after he was cleared by his own organisation in the NICL case.

But Mr Chaudhry still faces a petition filed in the Supreme Court by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf challenging his appointment as chief of the National Accountability Bureau.

Mr Chaudhry went on leave on Nov 22 after the court directed his organisation to investigate whether he was involved in ‘illegal’ appointment of Ayaz Khan Niazi as chairman of the National Insurance Company Limited in 2009 and if obstructed the investigation into the Rs6 billion NICL scam.

“Mr Chaudhry rejoined his office today and did routine work,” NAB spokesman Ramzan Sajid told Dawn.

The executive board of NAB had cleared Mr Chaudhry of charges levelled in the apex court’s judgment in the NICL case.

The investigation will, however, continue against other accused, including former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, who is accused of illegally appointing Ayaz Khan Niazi as NICL chairman. The NAB spokesman said: “An investigation has been ordered against individuals who were identified in the investigation and accused of misusing their authority to hamper the probe into the NICL case.”

According to the SC verdict, Mr Chaudhry had facilitated the illegal appointment of Mr Niazi while serving in the ministry of commerce as an additional secretary.

Mr Chaudhry was also accused of removing Zafar Qureshi, additional director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, from the NICL case investigation in his capacity as interior secretary.

Mr Chaudhry, considered to be close to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, was appointed as NAB chairman on Oct 10.