Waqas Akram formally nominated for PAC chief slot

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) officially put forth Sheikh Waqas Akram as its nominee for the chairmanship of the National Assembly's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Tuesday.

The announcement came as SIC Chairman Sahibzada Hamid Raza wrote a formal letter to the National Assembly Secretariat, confirming the party's endorsement of Akram for the position.

"Shaikh Waqas Akram has been selected as the nominee for the chairmanship of the PAC," he stated while communicating with the NA Secretariat.

The nomination put an end to a tug-of-war that had been brewing within the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Initially, the party had put its weight behind Sher Afzal Marwat for the position. However, Marwat's vocal opposition to the party leadership escalated tensions.

Following a vote by the PTI's political committee, Sheikh Waqas Akram emerged as the favoured candidate, securing nine out of 19 votes, with Marwat receiving seven. Aon Abbas abstained from voting, while former speaker Asad Qaiser and Marwat were absent during the proceedings.

Read also: Waqas Akram in, Marwat out for PAC top slot

The rift within the PTI ranks intensified when Marwat received a show-cause notice from the party on May 11, condemning his 'irresponsible' statements. PTI Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan issued the notice, demanding Marwat to clarify his remarks within three days, which were deemed detrimental to the party's image.

The notice underscored that such statements contravened the party's discipline and disregarded the explicit directives of its founding chairman, Imran Khan.

Marwat was cautioned that failure to furnish a satisfactory explanation could result in further disciplinary measures, highlighting the party's resolve to uphold its principles amid internal dissent.

The issuance of the show-cause notice came hot on the heels of Marwat's defiant statement that he would not let a handful of people call the shots within the party.