ISLAMABAD - Although no formal contact between the government and opposition has been made for the appointment of Chairman National Accountability Bureau but informally the leaders of both the parties are in constant touch with each other.Sources aware of the developments taking place on this front informed The Nation that the remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan in some NAB related case had sent a panic wave and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar had formally approached Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah in this regard.Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry while hearing a case had given remarks that if the government and opposition would make serious efforts to fill the vacancy of Chairman NAB at the earliest the role of arbitrator in the appointment criterion of Chairman NAB would be revived.The sources in the PML-N government informed that Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif directed Ishaq Dar, his close and trusted aide, to take the mind of Leader of Opposition before floating the names to fill the slot of Chairman NAB, so that consensus could be evolved before floating of the names for consultation.However, no formal exchange of names from government and opposition side are floated yet to fill the slot of Chairman NAB which fell vacant after the ouster of former Chairman Admiral (retd) Fasih Bokhari by the apex court on the petition of former Leader of Opposition who had challenged his appointment on the ground that the then Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani had not done meaningful consultation with him before the appointment.For the appointment of Chairman NAB both Leader of House and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly have to be on same page as disagreement of any of these two would be enough to disqualify the candidate for the slot.Previously in the appointment of Chairman NAB the Chief Justice of Pakistan used to act as arbitrator in case of disagreement between the Leader of the House and Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly and pick any of the three names floated by them to fill the slot of chairman in ace accountability apparatus of the country. But in Asfandyar Yar Wali versus State case Chief Justice of Pakistan had withdrawn his role of arbitrator and made it obligatory to have meaningful consultation with Leader of Opposition for the appointment of Chairman NAB.Now the remarks of Chief Justice of Pakistan that the role of arbitrator could be revived in the appointment process of Chairman NAB if government and opposition indifference would continue toward the fulfilment of this very important constitutional obligation, has sent panic wave on both the ranks of both PML-N and PPP and swift move was made to initiate the consultation process to fill the vacant slot of Chairman NAB.Sources in PML-N said that earlier the party leadership was least bothered in this connection and instead of appointment of Chairman NAB they wanted to get the new National Accountability Commission Bill through from the Parliament for which they are planning to engage the main Opposition PPP in parleys.But now in the face of the apex court pressure PML-N was left with little choice but to engage in consultation with PPP to fill the vacant slot of Chairman otherwise the apex court could revive the role of arbitrator and another privilege and power of the Parliament would go in the hands of Chief Justice of Pakistan.