ISLAMABAD: The government is considering extending the service of National Accountability Bureau Deputy Chairman Javed Kazi after he reaches superannuation on April 30.

Law ministry sources told Dawn on Wednesday that Mr Kazi, who is currently enjoying all powers of NAB chairman after the removal of Justice (retd) Deedar Hussain Shah on the orders of the Supreme Court, had himself sent his extension case to the ministry through the bureau’s legal wing. Mr Kazi neither confirmed nor denied that he had sent his own case to the law ministry.

“It is not in my knowledge.”

According to the sources, the government wants to retain Mr Kazi and is also considering appointing him as the bureau’s next chairman.

“If he (Mr Kazi) is not accepted by the opposition leader in the National Assembly, whose consent is required under the NAB Ordinance, he may continue to work as deputy chairman of NAB,” a source said.

Interestingly, efforts to extend the service of the deputy chairman are being made at a time when the Supreme Court has asked the government to remove all officers who have been reappointed after retirement. Some top offices have already been sacked by the government after the court orders.

Sources in NAB said that before leaving the office on March 11, Deedar Hussain Shah had delegated all his powers to the deputy chairman. A letter issued by Mr Shah said: “All divisions and wings at the NAB headquarters, including the operations division, prosecution division, A&P division, HR & F division, overseas wing, IT wing and intelligence & vigilance wing, shall submit all cases and matters to the deputy chairman for further processing or appropriate orders.

“All other wings, sections and officials, including director print and electronic media, director intelligence and vigilance, director MIS (computer) wing and overseas wing, shall report directly to the deputy chairman.”