ISLAMABAD: After getting a clean chit from the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from an inquiry into the Rs6 billion National Insurance Company (NICL) scam case for his alleged involvement, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry was reinstated Thursday as the chairman of Pakistan’s top anti-corruption watchdog, DawnNews reported.
Earlier last month, the Supreme Court had ordered prosecution, under the accountability law, of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry for his objectionable role in the NICL scam.
According to the directives issued by the Supreme Court on Nov 22, the incumbent NAB chairman had been allegedly involved in the illegal appointment of former chairman of NICL, Ayaz Khan Niazi, while working as an additional secretary in the commerce ministry.
Chaudhry had also been accused of creating hindrance in the investigation of NICL scam by removing the head of the investigation team, Zafar Qureshi (an officer of Federal Investigation Agency), while serving as secretary interior.
The NAB chief had been appointed on Oct 10 after a constitutional process but his appointment had been challenged in the Supreme Court by the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) and he went on a long leave when the court ordered investigation against him.
According to sources, the NAB chief was given a clean chit on Monday by the bureau’s executive board at a meeting presided over by acting Chairman retired Rear Admiral Saeed Ahmed Sargana. He was subsequently reinstated today to the office of NAB chairman.