Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday invoked the jurisdiction of Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) against Chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Chaudhry Qamar Zaman for his removal from the slot on grounds that his neutrality and impartiality is in question.

Spokesperson of a PTI. who is also a Supreme Court lawyer, Fawad Hussain Chaudhry filed a reference under Article 209 of the Constitution days after the Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case expressed disappointment over the chairman NAB who, according to the judgement, "appeared to be indifferent and even unwilling to perform his part."

It was one of the major reasons that majority of the judges of the bench ruled that such response from the head of the top anti-graft body has constrained them to look elsewhere and constitute a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to investigate the matter.

Seeking interim relief in the matter, the complainant urged the SJC to restrain the chairman NAB from continuing his office till disposal of the reference in hand. The complainant argued that during the proceedings of Panama Papers case the chairman NAB was found (by the Supreme Court) guilty of glaring and stunning illegalities and violations of the code of conduct.

"The findings of the judges in their respective notes as well as in the order of the court are such that the respondent (chairman NAB) must be stopped forthwith from dispensing his duties and also removed from the office to face the criminal proceedings for violating the law and the Constitution and for being disrespectful and dishonest to his legal obligations," Fawad requested the Council.

The complainant levelled allegations against chairman NAB saying that he has failed to discharge his duties in accordance with law as he is partial, dishonest and hand in glove with the culprits as he failed to put those on trial instead. Fawad Chaudhry alleged that the chairman NAB has been naive and weak towards his mandatory duties hence he is liable to be removed forthwith from his incumbent office.

The complainant alleged that being Chairman of the NAB Chaudhry Qamar Zaman did not act expeditiously and effectively to eradicate corruption and corrupt practices from the country but he has been instrumental to help the criminals and culprits in avoiding the trials. "In spite of having credible and reliable evidence against the incumbent Prime Minister and his family members, who have been found guilty and suspect of illegal and unlawful actions and misused and abused power, but his conduct is contradictory to his legal and constitutional duties," the complainant claimed.

PTI's spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry added that he is filing the reference in hand with the sole object to uphold the Constitution and ensure the rule of law. Fawad urged the court to initiate proceedings under Article 209 of the Constitution read with all enabling provisions of law and the Constitution against the respondent Chaudhry Qamar Zaman, "for misconduct, acting in a manner that is unbecoming of chairman NAB, violating the code of conduct and section 6 of the NAB Ordinance 1997 and shattering the image of NAB in the eyes of public and for bringing disgrace, humiliation and lowering the prestigious to the office of the chairman NAB in the light of the allegations."-Business Recorder