ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) expressed no confidence in a two-member Supreme Court (SC) bench as it opened hearing into the mysterious death of NAB investigator, Faisal Kamran, who was part of a panel probing the multibillion scam of the Rental Power Projects (RPPs), which also involves Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashrafa.

Meanwhile, NAB Chairman Adm. (retd) Fasih Bokhari has tendered his resignation that he, however, neither confirmed nor denied.

NAB Prosecutor General KK Agha told the bench comprising Justice Jawad S Khawaja and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain that he has no confidence in it. Justice asked him to submit his reservations in writing.

Justice Hussain said that if the reasons for no confidence were found tenable, these might be considered.

Khawaja said the court was focused on the connection that Faisal’s death may have with the RPPs case. He said both the government and the court wanted to ensure rule of law and, the government has also constituted a commission to probe the matter.

The bench asked Anwar Kamal, advocate, to become amicus curiae in the case to which Agha objected. Kamal said that he was amicus curiae in the RPPs petitions.

Attorney General (AG) Irfan Qadir told the court that an inquiry was already in process into Faisal’s death. He submitted a letter confirming that judicial commission headed by Justice (retired) Javed Iqbal was investigating the matter. The bench sought the official notification which established this commission and adjourned the hearing to Feb.1.

Bokhari was present before the bench during the hearing of Faisal’s death case. When asked by the reporters whether he has resigned or written any letter to the president to the effect, he said that he wants to enjoy the pleasant weather.

Then they asked whether he was refuting the reports about his resignation, he said he is neither confirming nor denying such news.

A British news agency reported that Bokhari has resigned as NAB chairman, and claimed that he spoke with them and said he could not reveal the reasons behind his resignation.

It is reported that in a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, Bokhari stated that NAB officers were under pressure from the Supreme Court as they were not being given enough time to investigate cases and to implement the judicial orders.

The letter said the NAB did not get sufficient time to implement the court’s directives, adding that the NAB law did not permit the filing of a corruption reference against anybody without the chairman’s approval.

A police official said that besides the Jan.16 CCTV footage of the NAB headquarters, the telephone record including that of official and private mobile numbers as well as office and residence landline numbers of the NAB chairman, DG HR, the Government Services Hospital Islamabad executive director, Inspector General Police Islamabad and the businessman, if analyzed, by Supreme Court would reply many unanswered questions.

Despite tall claims of NAB that it would provide security to its Investigation Officers (IOs), a number of them investigating high-profile cases are still bereft of this official protection.