PTI takes U-turn on PAC chairmanship

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has taken a U-turn on its nomination for the post of National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, finalising the name of Sheikh Waqas Akram in place of Sher Afzal Marwat, sources told Geo News on Monday.

According to the sources, the political committee will inform PTI founder Imran Khan about the decision to withdraw Marwat’s name for the PAC chairmanship. PTI Secretary General and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan and Senator Shibli Faraz had summoned a political committee meeting to withdraw Marwat’s name, said the sources, adding that they suggested Akram’s name as his replacement.

During voting, the sources added, Asad Qaiser, Sheharyar Afridi, Shandana Gulzar, and Zulfi Bukhari came forward in favour of Marwat. However, speaking on the development, Marwat said that he was neither invited nor consulted in the political committee meeting. The 53-year-old politician, who hails from Lakki Marwat, remains in the limelight due to his blunt and controversial remarks. He has also been at loggerheads with party members and others due to differing opinions and comments.

On April 30, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, on the recommendation of the PTI founder, announced that his party had finalised Marwat’s name for the PAC chairman. “All disputes are over [now] as the party has picked the name of Marwat for the slot,” said the PTI chairman during his interaction with journalists in Rawalpindi.