NAB appoints Zahir Shah as acting chairman

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Saturday appointed Zahir Shah as its acting chairman after Aftab Sultan’s resignation on Tuesday.

According to a notification released by the bureau on Friday, Shah was appointed to the position on February 22 in pursuance of the proviso to Section 6b(v) (chairman National Accountability Bureau) of the National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

Shah’s appointment followed Aftab Sultan’s abrupt resignation as NAB chairman after only seven months in charge of the organization charged with battling corruption.

Sultan mentioned interference and pressure as his reasons for leaving, although he did not say who was exerting the pressure.

His comments were quickly pounced upon by the main opposition PTI as proof that he had been forced to file corruption referrals against their leader Imran Khan.

Formerly serving as the bureau’s Director General (Operations), Shah was then named as its deputy chairman in October 2021.

He had about 20 years of service with NAB and had held important roles there.