Law Minister Farogh Naseem and Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry on Wednesday reiterated the government’s stance that no consultation will take place with the opposition leader so long as Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif occupies the post.
Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department in Islamabad, Fawad said: “If Shehbaz Sharif had a degree of shame he would resign as opposition leader.”
Naseem rejected the impression that there is a difference in his stance and that of the information minister.
“The president is the one who will appoint the NAB chairman,” he explained, adding that this will be done after consultation with both, leaders of the house and the opposition.
Naseem said that the prime minister, therefore, will not be holding any consultations with the opposition leader, and the president, instead, will be facilitating the discussion.
The law minister said that after consultation, a name may be agreed upon for the appointment of the NAB chairman. “If the consultations fail, a parliamentary committee will be formed, similar to how one was formed for the appointment of the vacant posts at the Election Commission of Pakistan,” he added.
Naseem said that the committee will be formed by National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.
“Until the new chairman is appointed, the old one will continue,” he added.
