ISLAMABAD, Nov 8: President General Pervez Musharraf is reported to have decided to appoint a retired army officer as new chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in place of Lt Gen Munir Hafeez who recently retired from the army.

Informed sources said that Lt Gen Shahid Hamid, who recently retired as corps commander Lahore, was likely to be the new NAB chief.

Secretary of the National Security Council Tariq Aziz met the leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rahman, in the latter’s chamber on Tuesday and reportedly informed him about the president’s decision.

According to Maulana Fazl, he told Mr Aziz that the NAB did not enjoy the reputation of a neutral accountability body and that it was being used for victimisation of political opponents.

He however, said he would discuss the matter with his colleagues in the MMA and other opposition parties and that he was not in a position to support or oppose the appointment of another retired general to head the NAB because generals were already heading several national institutions.

Talking to newsmen, Maulana Fazl said he had told Mr Aziz that people had no confidence in the neutrality of the army which had occupied almost all national institutions.

Meanwhile, Maulana Fazl said in a statement: “Individuals and organisations which were dubbed as terrorist had demonstrated more love for humanity by providing assistance to earthquake victims whereas no political party or so-called friendly countries offered any worthwhile support in the time of national tragedy.”

He said that while Europe donated $10 billion for tsunami victims they had failed to offer even $1 billion for victims of the worst earthquake in Pakistan’s history.

He asked the government to reassess the situation and realize the gravity of the problem in the light of cold response from ‘friendly’ countries.