ISLAMABAD: The federal government has made decision on principle to remove Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif as chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC). However, the vote of Akhtar Mengal, Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M), turned important for the ruling political party for making his plans successful.
Sources said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led federal government decided to nominate Fakhar Imam as new PAC chairman after succeeding in no-confidence motion to be brought against Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif.
A letter will be forwarded to the Speaker National Assembly (NA) Asad Qaiser by fifteen PAC members who were belonging to ruling political party and its coalition partners to express lack of confidence over Shehbaz Sharif.
Thirty (30) members including Finance Minister Asad Umar were included in the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) while the government will need to get majority to execute its plan. The PTI government is enjoying support of 15 members while opposition parties have strength of 14 votes. Moreover, the finance minister has neither get authority to appoint PAC chairman nor removing it.
Will Bring No-Confidence Motion Against PAC Chairman: Rasheed
The situation increased importance of Akhtar Mengal’s vote amid the fact that BNP-M chief expressed differences with the PTI government over non-implementation of six-point formula for Balochistan province.
Currently, the federal government has 11 votes from PTI, one vote each from coalition partners including Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q), Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) and Balochistan National Party Mengal (BNP-M). Moreover, independent candidate Ali Nawaz also expressed his support to the federal government.
On the other side, the united opposition gets support of 7 votes from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), 5 from Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) 5, one votes each from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) and Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA).
Sources said that the federal government has decided to contact Akhtar Mengal to ensure complete implementation of Balochistan’s six-point agenda.
“NRO Tantamount To Treason”
Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, while rejecting speculations regarding reconciliation moves with opposition leaders, said that a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) will be tantamount to commit treason with the country.
PM Imran Khan was addressing a crowded event after inaugurating “Plant for Pakistan” campaign in Balloki, situated in suburbs of Sheikhupura city of Punjab.
PM Khan reiterated that corrupt elements will not get relief now as the country faced historical damages after provision of NRO by Pervez Musharraf to Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari just to save his position.
He clarified that third NRO will not be provided [by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government]. PM questioned why the culprits that pushed country into huge losses were asking for [PTI’s] performance report for last five months. He added that the individuals facing NAB cases were now summoning National Accountability Bureau (NAB).
Targeting the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif without naming him, PM Khan said it was not happened in the history of democracy if a person appointed as chairman of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) after being released from jail.
He said that PTI government will make every effort to move forward with opposition in better situation.
