Imran gives in to demand on PAC post
PM SAYS HE WILL NOT STAND IN WAY OF SHARIF IF HE WANTS TO HEAD THE BODY
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi announced in the National Assembly yesterday that Prime Minister Imran Khan has decided to not stand in the way of Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif, if he wants to head the public accounts committee (PAC), Dawn reported yesterday.
“We met Prime Minister Imran Khan today on the issue of PAC chairmanship,” Qureshi said. “We had offered the opposition to nominate any person other than Shahbaz Sharif, but they did not budge.
“Imran Khan has reviewed his decision and if Shahbaz Sharif wants to head the PAC, the government will not obstruct.
Interests of democracy
“In the larger interest of democracy and in order to make the parliament functional, we concede to the opposition’s demand.”
The development is a major breakthrough as the impasse between the government and opposition parties over PAC chairmanship had hampered legislative proceedings since the PTI assumed power in August.
Sharif credited the PM for “reviewing his stance”, recognising that “the government wants to make this parliament functional as it wants to bring important legislation for the welfare of the people.”
PML-N leader and former NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq felicitated the prime minister and termed the decision as his “most positive U-turn”.
“If he continues to take such U-turns, democracy will be strengthened,” he said.
Sadiq pointed out that PAC chairmanship would only count as one vote in the committee, in which government members would still be in the majority.
Furthermore, he said, “when the audit paras of the PML-N government will come up before the committee, it will be headed by some other senior member.”
PPP leader and former prime minister Raja Pervez Ashraf acknowledged NA Speaker Asad Qaiser’s efforts “for playing a positive role” in the resolving of the PAC chairman issue. Ashraf also lauded the government for reviewing its decision, adding that “after four months, this house will become functional”.