Imran resolute on PAC nomination

PTI founder rebuffs PML-N's panel request

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has refused to entertain further consultations regarding the nomination for the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

He has instructed party leadership to cease discussions on the matter and has firmly reiterated his stance on the proposed candidate.

According to sources, Imran has categorically endorsed Sheikh Waqas Akram as the party's nominee for the PAC chairmanship, leaving no room for alternative suggestions, while reprimanding the party leadership for attempting to reconsider the nomination.

"I will decide who will be PTI's PAC chairman, not Shehbaz Sharif or any other government official. My first, second, third, and fourth choice for the PAC chairmanship is Sheikh Waqas Akram," Imran was quoted as saying during the meeting.

The controversy began when PML-N's Chief Whip Tariq Fazal Chaudhry wrote to PTI's Chief Whip Amir Dogar, requesting a panel of four nominees for the PAC chairmanship. Tariq Fazal had previously written two letters on July 1 and August 29, seeking names for the position.

PTI, in its response to the first letter, nominated Sheikh Waqas Akram. However, the PML-N later requested a list of four nominees in its second communication.

Following consultations with the incarcerated party supremo, the PTI leadership reaffirmed its sole nomination of Sheikh Waqas Akram in a letter dated September 19. "Our first, second, third, and fourth nominee is Sheikh Waqas Akram," the letter asserted.

The announcement came a day after party leadership met with Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.

During the meeting, the party leaders apprised Imran of the correspondence from the NA speaker's office regarding the PAC chairmanship. In response, the PTI founder asserted, "PTI will nominate the PAC chairman, and neither Shehbaz Sharif nor government officials have the authority to pick or choose from our party".

The PTI leadership has since initiated consultations on Tariq Fazal Chaudhry's letter and plans to submit its final response next week.

Imran also hinted at resigning from the chairmanships of other standing committees if the PAC chairmanship was not granted to the party's nominee.

Earlier, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary, Chief Whip of the ruling party, had sent a third letter to PTI Chief Whip Amir Dogar, raising concerns over the prolonged delay in appointing the chairman of the PAC.

In the letter, Dr Tariq said the government wanted to conclude the process by the coming week and reiterated the ruling coalition's repeated requests for the opposition to propose a panel of four nominees to facilitate the appointment.

Despite a delay spanning 10 months, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding parliamentary norms by continuing to offer the PAC chairmanship to the opposition.

The letter also included a warning to PTI, urging it to submit the requested panel within seven days. Dr Tariq cautioned that failure to comply would leave the government no choice but to unilaterally proceed with finalising the PAC chairman's appointment.