Pakistan

Rana's appointment as NAB judge confirmed

IHC issues notification, directing former AC-1 judge Muhammad Bashir to report to court

Our Correspondent February 21, 2024

Under the ordinance, the federal government will establish a three-member Privatisation Appellate Tribunal. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the tribunal may file an appeal before the Supreme Court. photo: file

ISLAMABAD:

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has also approved the appointment of Islamabad District and Sessions Judge Nasir Javed Rana as the new judge at Islamabad Accountability Court-I.

The Ministry of Law and Justice on Monday appointed Rana to the position vacated by Judge Muhammad Bashir, who is set to retire on March 14.

On Tuesday, the IHC issued a notification confirming Judge Rana’s appointment. The IHC directed Judge Bashir to report to the high court as an officer on special duty (OSD).

According to the notification issued by the ministry on Monday, Nasir Javed Rana will serve as the accountability court judge for three years—till January 24, 2027.

On January 20, Judge Bashir applied for medical leave until his retirement.

In the letter sent to the IHC and the Ministry of Law and Justice, the judge stated that due to his deteriorating health, he could not perform his duties.

However, the ministry did not approve his request. After his request was denied, the judge withdrew his application on January 27, stating that he was now well and able to perform his duties.

On January 28, Judge Bashir sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, to 14 years in prison for misusing the state’s gift repository during the former’s term as PM. On February 3, the judge once again applied for leave until his retirement on medical grounds.

Judge Bashir was adjudicating a number of high-profile cases, including the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) references filed against former PM Imran Khan and his wife for their alleged involvement in a £190m scandal.

The judge was also hearing another Toshakhana reference involving former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif and Yousuf Raza Gillani, as well as former president Asif Ali Zardari as accused.

He was also presiding over the hearing of a fake account case registered against Zardari and a NAB reference against former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.