Pakistan Supreme Court sacks corruption watchdog chief

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday sacked the head of the national anti-corruption body, declaring his appointment unlawful, and asked the government to appoint a replacement quickly.

Fasih Bokhari, chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), had also been facing contempt of court charges for not taking action against former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf over controversial power projects.

Corruption is rampant in virtually all spheres of life in Pakistan but perpetrators, particularly those with money and powerful connections, are rarely brought to justice.

Former opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had filed a petition in the court complaining that he was not consulted over the appointment of Bokhari as required by law.

Supreme Court Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani, heading a five-judge panel, issued a short statement ruling that Bokhari's appointment had not been made properly.

The appointment of Bokhari as NAB chairman was "without lawful authority and is set aside with immediate effect", Jillani said.

"The Federal Government is directed to make fresh appointment without further loss of time."

In January a NAB investigator was found hanging from a ceiling fan in a government hostel in Islamabad, three days after the Supreme Court ordered Ashraf's arrest over a long-running scandal into so-called rental power plants.

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