NA standing committees: PM directs party to hold talks with opposition

PML-N to not take part in any committee until Shehbaz appointed as PAC chairman

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has directed his party leaders to hold talks with the opposition immediately for the constitution of the National Assembly standing committees.

A consultative meeting, chaired by the PM on Monday, decided that the government will once again hold talks with the opposition on the question of standing committees which are yet to be formed.

The moot was attended by NA Speaker Asad Qaiser, Leader of the House in Senate Shibli Faraz, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

According to sources, the government can show willingness to give the post of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman to any person other than the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif or Khawaja Asif.

However, PML-N has refused to give up its demand for appointing Shehbaz Sharif as chairman of the PAC and made it clear that it would not take part in any standing committee until Shehbaz is made head of the key panel.

The PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb told this to the NA Speaker Asad Qaiser in a meeting on Monday. The two leaders exchanged views on issuance of a production order for Shehbaz, who is currently in the National Accountability Bureau’s custody, as well as formation of standing committees.

The speaker had requested the opposition t to show some flexibility on the question of formation of the NA standing committees. However, the PML-N has refused to give in. According to sources, a delegation led by the speaker would visit Prime Minister Imran Khan to discuss the issues.