Gen (R) Aziz likely to be new NAB Chief

ISLAMABAD—Federal government has decided to appoint Lt Gen (Retd) Shahdi Aziz as new chairman of National Accountability Bureau (NAB). However, the formal announcement in this regard will be made soon.
Reliable sources confided it to Online on Tuesday that Shahid Aziz who retired from the office of corps commander Lahore will soon be named as chairman NAB. Lt Gen Shafatullah has assumed the charge as Corps Commander Lahore.
According to constitutional stipulations government can only appoint chairman NAB after consultations with leader of the house as well as opposition leader.
Meanwhile, Tariq Aziz, Secretary National Security Council on Tuesday held a surprise meeting with Maulana Fazlur Rehman leader of opposition benches and discussed with him over all political situation of the country.
Talking to newsmen after his one-hour long meeting with Tariq Aziz, Maulana Fazalur Rehman said government wants to appoint a retired army general as chairman of National Accountability Bureau. “NSC Secretary met me in this regard to get opposition’s point of view over the matter but I made it clear that we (opposition) are against institutions like NAB because such organisations are used for political mileage and victimisation of opponents,” he said and added, however I am surprised why our (opposition) opinion was sought in this regard because we are totally against NAB.
NAB has a very bad image and I have given my reservations over it, he added.
My meeting with Tariq Aziz, he said was neither scheduled nor I was aware of it because when I came to the house he came to my seat and discussed the the matter.
He came to me with a single point agenda, however I will explain the situation after consultations with other opposition leaders.
When asked, Maulana Fazl said Tariq Aziz did not raise the matter of National Security Council during the meeting.
Recalling the allegations of terrorist on different banned religious outfits, Maulana Fazal also said that the organisations whom government calls ‘terrorists’ have helped the earthquake affectees the most.
He also regretted that so far only 1 billion dollars have been provided to earthquake affectees whereas the affectees of Asian Tsunami were given over 10 billion dollars. On the other hand, he said the number of helicopters being used in relief operations is very limited .
He said that government should revise its foreign policy with US because Washington when Israel needed relief allocated 2.30 billion dollars for it but when Pakistan needed international aide particularly from US it (US) has not done enough for Pakistan.
Maulana Fazal also said that so far elite class has not participated in the relief and rehabilitation process, which was needed from them in this critical situation.
He also hailed the support extended by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Bahrain to Pakistan since the killer earthquake hit Azad Kashmir and NWFP.—Online