The National Accountability Bureau on Tuesday announced the appointment of retired Justice Shah Khawar as the bureau's special prosecutor.

According to a press release issued by the bureau and acquired by DawnNews, Justice Khawar filled the post on an immediate basis. The notice says NAB has faced difficulty in following its cases due to the absence of a prosecutor general.

The press release says that since important cases are being heard in the Supreme Court and the accountability court in Islamabad, the bureau decided to appoint a special prosecutor instead of waiting for the post of prosecutor general to be filled.

Khawar will be representing the bureau before the apex court, which is currently hearing NAB's appeal challenging the Lahore High Court's order in the Hudaibya Paper Mills reference, the statement says. In the accountability courts in Islamabad, references filed by the bureau against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his family are being heard.

The appointment comes a day after the apex court dismissed an application filed by the NAB, in which the bureau had sought an adjournment of proceedings of the Hudaibya Paper Mills reference until a prosecutor general was appointed.

The apex court, however, was displeased with NAB's application and said that the seat of prosecutor general being vacant does not suffice as grounds for adjournment.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.